As the Falcons GM, would you trade up, down or remain at No. 8 in the draft?

McELHANEY: The closer we get to the draft, the more I think the Falcons should trade down for two reasons.

1. Between the edge rushers of Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, Laiatu Latu and Chop Robinson and the cornerbacks of Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, the Falcons have really solid opportunity to find premium defensive selections wherever they’re selecting.

2. By trading down they’re very likely to receive a future first-round pick, which would go a long way in finding a successor to Kirk Cousins. This is an important thought not because you necessarily need said successor on the roster in 2024. You don’t have to worry too much about the prospect this offseason, seeing as you just acquired Cousins and brought back Taylor Heinicke for his final season of a two-year deal. However, it is important — vitally so — to be thinking two to four years down the road at the quarterback position. If you have a second-, first-round pick in 2025? There’s no doubt you could package a duo of picks to move up high enough to draft one of the best — if not the best — quarterback in 2025, while also reserving the right to sit him behind Cousins for a year or even two. (See Patrick Mahomes and Jordan Love examples).

Is this playing the 2024 NFL Draft safe? Probably. But as time goes on, the more it makes sense… in my head at least.