With the 2025 NFL Draft season fully underway, rumors are beginning to circulate about trades, drafts, free agency, and so much more. The Atlanta Falcons will look to be an active team this offseason, as they showed many signs of improvement under their rookie quarterback, Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons, who are looking to turn a corner next season, could be a very active team in free agency and trades. In a recent mock draft on ESPN, the Falcons can secure Jalon Walker or Mike Green before division rivals with only one trade.
Atlanta Falcons Could Secure Jalon Walker or Mike Green Before Division Rivals With One Trade
According to a recent mock draft on ESPN, the Falcons could land Jalon Walker or Mike Green before any of their division rivals with this one trade to the New York Jets, who have the seventh overall pick.
The Jets need a tight end after losing Tyler Conklin and securing some extra draft capital. So, the Falcons could turn around and trade the Jets the No. 15 overall pick, a 2026 third-round pick, and TE Kyle Pitts.
Outside of offensive linemen, the seventh overall draft pick is a prime spot to start taking some front-seven defenders, such as Michigan Wolverines’ Mason Graham, Georgia Bulldogs’ Jalon Walker, Alabama Crimson Tide’s Jihaad Campbell, and Marshall’s Mike Green.
The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints would be very interested in just about any of the names above. The Falcons, however, are desperate for some pass rush help and would love to beat their rivals to the punch on landing one of the best pass rushers of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Falcons could be very excited to move on from Pitts as well, who hasn’t quite reached the potential everyone thought he would after an impressive rookie campaign in 2021. The Jets are only holding on to Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt for their tight end spot, so adding a young tight end like Pitts could have some upside and appeal to their new offensive coordinator, Tanner Engstrand.
Pitts will be a one-year, $10.8 million deal for 2025, and the Jets would have a reasonable transition tag option for 2026, at $13.9 million, if Pitts can play up to his potential. The trade would value Pitts as being worth the No. 66 pick in a typical draft.
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Given his performance over the past few seasons, this could be a generous spot. However, he is still a former top-five pick at a position that regularly needs development. The Jets aren’t in the market for front-seven players, but they could certainly look to update their wide receiver core or an offensive lineman at No. 15 while adding a new tight end.
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