Proposed Trade Reunites Falcons’ Arthur Smith With Former Top 5 Pick

Head coach Arthur Smith and the Atlanta Falcons have already acquired a former top 5 selection from the 2020 NFL draft. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested a trade where the Falcons could land another ex-top 5 pick from the 2017 draft.

Barnwell proposed the Falcons shipping their No. 8 pick, along with a third-round choice, to the New York Jets. In exchange, the Falcons would receive the No. 13 selection, a 2023 second-round pick and veteran wide receiver Corey Davis.

The Tennessee Titans selected Davis at No. 5 in 2017.

“The Falcons would drop down five spots but move up 42 spots in the other part of the deal, getting them in position to add more starting-caliber talent to a defense that has holes at multiple positions,” wrote Barnwell. “They would also add an intriguing wide receiver in Davis, who had his breakout 2020 season under Falcons coach Arthur Smith when the two were together in Tennessee.”

Davis disappointed for most of his tenure with the Titans. He didn’t earn a second contract in Tennessee, instead signing with the Jets before the 2021 season.

But with Smith as his offensive coordinator in 2020, Davis posted career-highs of 984 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. He also tied a career best with 65 receptions.

Last season with the Jets, Davis registered 32 catches for 536 yards and 2 touchdowns in 10 games.

Getting Davis isn’t the only added benefit for the Falcons in Barnwell’s proposed trade. Atlanta would also move up 32 spots on Day 2 (essentially sending a third-rounder to the Jets for a second).

Receiving that and Davis to move back just five spots in the first round sounds like excellent value.

Such a trade will make even more sense if the best players still on the board at No. 8 are offensive tackles. Barnwell indicated that could be the case.

The Falcons have offensive tackles Jakes Matthews and Kaleb McGary signed through the 2025 season. They don’t need a tackle.

A run on tackle after Atlanta trades back to No. 13 could allow the player the Falcons were going to draft at No. 8 still be available five picks later.