Terry Fontenot primed to do something he’s done as Falcons GM

The Falcons are about a month away from the NFL Draft, and there’s a very good chance that Terry Fontenot does something he’s never done before as Atlanta’s GM.

The team owns the no. 8 overall pick for a third consecutive draft cycle. In each of Fontenot’s three first rounds, the Falcons have taken an offensive player, specifically a skill position.

Now, everyone expects the Falcons to take a defensive player, which would be a first for Fontenot.

Ryan Wilson of CBS and Chad Reuter of NFL.com project the Falcons to take Jared Verse. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com,  Mike Tannenbaum of ESPN, Matt Miller of ESPN, Ben Standig of The Athletic, and Brad Spielberger from PFF all have Dallas Turner going to Atlanta at no. 8.

There’s a consensus among most Falcons fans too that Terry Fontenot will draft a defender, whether it’s an edge defender or a cornerback like Quinyon Mitchell or Terrion Arnold. That would be a first for Fontenot.

However, there’s another scenario where the Falcons GM doesn’t take a defender and still enjoys a ‘first’ draft moment. Atlanta is in a prime position to trade back in next month’s draft, which is something Fontenot has never done in the first round.

For instance, in a recent ESPN hypothetical, the Falcons move down with, ironically, the Vikings, in exchange for the No. 11 and 23 pick with Minnesota getting the No. 8 pick and an extra third-rounder from Atlanta.

Other potential trade partners include the Broncos and Raiders, who might also be looking for a quarterback like the Vikings. But it’s not only signal callers. If Rome Odunze or Joe Alt falls to the Falcons, Fontenot could make a deal with a GM that desperately needs a WR1 or a left tackle to protect their franchise quarterback.

Either way, it seems the Falcons are going to take a defender or trade back, maybe even both, for the first time in Fontenot’s tenure.