In 1999 New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka let everyone know he would trade his entire draft to get running back Ricky Williams.
He did just that and more.
Ditka traded all of his picks to the Washington Redskins, plus a 1st and a 3rd in 2000 in order to move up to No. 5 and draft Williams.
The Atlanta Falcons have the highest available pick at No. 4 in this year’s draft and a slew of elite players in a deep talent year.
Rumor has it Daniel Snyder, owner of the Washington Football Team, is ready to go Full Ditka to get quarterback Trey Lance from North Dakota State.
According to The Athletic’s Michael Lombardi, “I think Washington is going to be the next team to unload all their picks to try to get a QB. I think they love Lance. I don’t think, I know Washington loves Lance. I think they’re willing to go get him.”
So far we’ve heard that Jerry Jones is infatuated with tight end Kyle Pitts, and now Daniel Snyder is ready to go all-in on Lance. The 49ers are gassing up Alabama’s Mac Jones, and that’s just making the Falcons pick at No. 4 more and more valuable.
Washington holds picks at 19, 51, 74, 83, 125, 164, 246, and 248 in this Draft. The key picks being four picks in the Top 100. Would the No. 4 pick be worth four Top 100 picks to the Falcons?
Yes.
Atlanta has multiple holes to fill, especially on defense. The Falcons could get an edge rusher like Jayson Oweh of Penn State and two starting safeties in the second round.
The best thing that can happen for Atlanta is a bidding war. I said in January that if Justin Fields (or Zach Wilson) were available at No. 4, new general manager Terry Fontenot would become an auctioneer for the Falcons pick.
The 49ers interest in Mac Jones could make that happen. If it does, the Falcons are going to have a lot of options at No. 4… all of them good.
