With Kirk Cousins in the fold, the Falcons are signaling to the rest of the league their window to compete is officially open.
However, to maximize their chances with the veteran, Terry Fontenot has to add to the defense, which Raheem Morris acknowledged on Tuesday during the owner’s meetings in Orlando.
The two most pressing needs? Cornerback and EDGE. The latter of which is more important, in my opinion. One potential trade target is still available in Haason Reddick.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN recently linked the Falcons to the Eagles’ pass rusher, and another report from Jake Rabadi has brought to light the asking price — at least a second-round pick.
“The Eagles have had some trade discussions regarding Reddick, a source said, but nothing has come close to materializing. The Eagles are seeking at least a second-round pick, a source told The Liberty Line,” Rabadi said.
A second-round pick may be a bit rich for a 30-year-old who is in the final season of his three-year deal and will need a new contract. According to Rabadi, Reddick is seeking $25 million per year in his next contract.
Now, $25 million per season for a pass rusher that hasn’t recorded fewer than 11 sacks since 2019, including 27 over the last two seasons, is the going rate in today’s market. A second-rounder may just be too much for Terry Fontenot.
In that same breath, Montez Sweat fetched a second-round pick and a subsequent contract extension. A player the Falcons were in on before the Bears swooped in with a higher second-rounder. Sweat is two years younger than Reddick but is coming off the first double-digit sack season of his career.
Regardles of the price, the Falcons need to add an impact pass rusher. Fontenot must push the chips to the middle of the table to maximize this window with Kirk Cousins. It may not be a Haason Reddick trade, but there needs to be something.
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