Falcons trade up, land Jayden Daniels in post-combine mock draft

The NFL Combine is in the books, and next, it will be free agency for the Falcons.

A lot of reports and rumors surfaced from Indianapolis, most of which surrounded Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields, but there were draft nuggets as well.

Drake Maye, who many expect to go second overall to the Commanders, may not have as many suitors as initially thought. Josh Kendall of The Athletic has sources that say Maye’s stock has dropped, and he may end up being the fourth quarterback taken.

“From the beginning of the season, Maye was considered one of the top two quarterback prospects in this year’s draft class along with USC’s Caleb Williams, but Maye’s stock has dropped of late and he could be the fourth quarterback taken in this draft, according to a league source.”

In a similar vein, the Falcons may have Jayden Daniels as their top option, according to Daniel Flick of Sports Illustrated.

“The reigning Heisman Trophy winner has been consistently slotted behind USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye by analysts, but the Falcons – or at least some evaluators on staff – side with Daniels,” Flick wrote.

The Falcons’ top priority seems to be one of the quarterback prospects coming out of the draft, regardless of how they acquire them. A trade up the draft board seems to be a fixture in any scenario where Atlanta lands Maye, Daniels, etc.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic has the Falcons trading up to the No. 3 pick, sending a couple of first-rounders and a second-round pick for the Patriots’ 2024 first-round pick.

3. Atlanta Falcons (from NE)*: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Projected trade: Falcons send No. 8, No. 43 and a 2025 first-round pick to the Patriots for No. 3

After years in salary-cap hell, would the Falcons be open to throwing a massive check at Kirk Cousins? Many in the league believe so, which speaks to Atlanta’s craving to upgrade at quarterback. But if Cousins elects to stay in Minnesota, the Falcons trading up to No. 3 feels like the next likeliest option.

Owner Arthur Blank once signed off on a trade that surrendered a massive haul of draft picks to jump up for a wide receiver (Julio Jones). He won’t hesitate to do it again if it means landing the upgrade at quarterback his franchise has been coveting. Is Daniels that guy? It’s a strong possibility.

Brugler described the scenario among “realistic trades” based on “what we know right now and what I heard while in Indianapolis.”

That would align with Flick’s report of the Falcons being high on Jayden Daniels, who accounted for 3,812 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, four interceptions, a 72.2% completion percentage, 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns during his Heisman campaign in Baton Rouge.

The Falcons should be overjoyed to land a guy like Daniels. He’s as electric as any quarterback coming out of college, and he’s a much more developed passer than Lamar Jackson was when he was coming out of Lousiville.

Atlanta would have a bright future with Raheem Morris and Jayden Daniels leading the Falcons.