(01-07-2022, 02:18 PM)rfc17 Wrote: Why would Atlanta want to do this deal?  So they can offload Ridley and get a slightly better player at #1?  To be honest I'm not sure there is a huge difference between 1 and 10 from our perspective other than it feels better to take a WR at 10 than it does at 1.  If Ridley has mental health issues, don't think we need that on our team.  If he doesn't have mental health issues and is pouting because he is unhappy, not sure we need that either.  If he isn't happy in Atlanta, can't imagine he'll be much happier in Jacksonville.

If he was to pass a totally clean bill of health and there was absolutely no concern to his well being or commitment to playing his best in jacksonville, I think this would be a no brainer of a trade.

(01-07-2022, 02:47 PM)Caldrac Wrote: Who would Atlanta want with the number one overall pick though? This isn't a very appealing draft to want that pick. Ridley, when he's on the field at least, he's been a pretty competent receiver. He probably would have had a monster year with Kyle Pitts out there looking like the 2nd coming of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates had he stuck it out.

His mental issues must be severe. I wouldn't risk it. This team is in far worse shape than Atlanta is in right now. Telvin Smith had his issues a few years ago. Really don't think it's a good fit or idea. This team is going to have to get creative in free agency and they should honestly start shopping that No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick now to see if anybody wants to bite on opening night.

While most people envision teams trading into the top spot for a QB and Atlanta does not seem to be in the immediate market for a QB, nor does there seem to be at this point a QB worthy of the top spot, it does not mean Atlanta would have no conceivable interest in moving up.  There are three-five  reasons (depending on how you phrase/group them) why Atlanta may have an interest in moving up in this draft. 



The need is there,



the talent may necessitate the move,



from a positional importance standpoint



Demand for the position



Scheme may mandate it,



Currently, Atlanta is last in the league in sacks with 17, per NFL.com.  That's right, kids.  Their pass rush is worse than ours!

Their leading sacker is Dante Fowler with 4.5 sacks.  They could definitely use edge rushing help



By most accounts, the top two prospects in this draft are edge rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aiden Hutchinson.  Not far below is Purdue's Karlaftsis, who is projected by most to be the 3rd rated edge rusher in the draft and another top ten caliber prospect.



The problem for Atlanta is they are picking 10th, and there are a lot of teams ahead of them who need pass rush help.  Tom Coughlin once said that when teams are building, the order of importance is to get a QB, then get the guys to go after the QB, then get the guys who protect the QB.  The Jaguars, arguably Texans, the Jets and arguably the Falcons already have their QBs.  Detroit, Carolina and the Giants likely do NOT have their QBs.  There is always the possibility a QB will be over drafted early.  But if teams stick to the boards, the pass rushers should go early because of positional importance/demand. 

Per PFN's simulator, the draft order currently looks like this

1.  Jacksonville
2.  Detroit
3.  Houston
4. NY Jets
5.  NY Giants
6.  Carolina
7.  NY Jets
8.  N.Y. Giants
9.  Washington
10.  Atlanta



We all know Jacksonville's pass rush is lackluster.  We're 2nd worse in that category.  Detroit is 3rd worst and they pick 2nd.



When they jettisoned JJ Watt, Whitney Mercilus, et al, the Texans lost all of their edge rushers.



The Jets could use an edge rusher.  We just played them a couple of weeks ago, and we had one of our best protection games of the year.  They spent a lot of capital-draft and free agency-upgrading the offense last year.    You can argue the defense is in worse shape, and they still have two second round picks with which to upgrade the offense if needed.



The Giants have been looking for an edge rusher for years.  The year we drafted Josh Allen, the Giants took QB Daniel Jones ahead of us, but tried to trade up with us to get Allen to provide that edge rush.  Assuming they retain their 2-4 scheme, they will nee the edge rusher



The Jets and the Giants both have two first round picks in the top ten.


As you can see, the demand is there ahead of Atlanta. 



On top of that, Atlanta is running a 3-4 scheme.  The guy who is projected to be picked 3rd of the top 3 edge rushers, Karlaftsis, is more of 4-3 DE than a 3-4 OLB because of size and physical traits.  If Atlanta is to get a scheme fit, they will have to target the two guys who more closely fit that 3-4 OLB paradigm, and that's Thibs and Hutch.  But if all the 3-4 teams ahead of them keep their schemes, they will all need the guys who can rush from a 2 point stance.  That means at minimum, they will be competing with the Giants for those top two players.



With the lack of top tier QB prospects in this draft and the high demand for edge rushers, and scheme requirements, it makes considerable sense for Atlanta to move up if the price is reasonable.  Atlanta has some draft capital with which to move up, with two second round pucks, plus a WR that may not be of any use to them any longer.

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