Should The Falcons Trade For Bruce Irvin?
By John Buhler
Seattle Seahawks OLB Bruce Irvin told Samuel Logan of BlackSportsOnline, that he is “going to be in Atlanta next season.” after the Hawks-Wizards Game 5 Wednesday night. Irvin is a Stone Mountain native and wishes to reunite with Dan Quinn once his contract with the Seahawks is up. This offseason the Seahawks front office told the former West Virginia Mountaineer that he would not be offered the fifth year option on his rookie deal, making Irvin a free agent after next season. Many speculate that Atlanta and Seattle might orchestrate a trade to bring Irvin to his hometown sooner. Should the Atlanta Falcons trade for OLB Bruce Irvin?
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With as excited as the ‘Hawks pass rusher is about playing for his former defensive coordinator in his hometown, Thomas Dimitroff should at least entertain discussions to bring Irvin home to Atlanta with Seattle’s GM John Schneider. If Dimitroff is willing to part with a Day Three draft pick, I’d say go for it. The Falcons can use all the help they can get at getting after the quarterback. Irvin is already familiar with Quinn’s defensive scheme that new Falcons DC Richard Smith will install at Flowery Branch.
But if Schneider wants to get more than a fourth-rounder in return for Bruce, Seattle’s first round pick in 2012, I’d say hold out and wait for Irvin to hit free agency next winter. Irvin has already publicly declared his wish to play in Atlanta for Dan Quinn. I would imagine that negotiating a new contract with the Falcons for Irvin will be a breeze next winter anyway. The issues lie more with the perceived value of Day Three draft picks and the legal ramifications of tampering with a player already under an expiring contract for Thomas Dimitroff.
For Atlanta to get Bruce Irvin, the Falcons would need to trade either a mid-grade front-seven player or a fourth round draft pick. If Dimitroff and Schneider can’t work up a deal this summer, just wait until free agency to acquire Bruce Irvin. Regardless of whether you are a fan of Irvin’s game or not, one thing is for sure, players want to play for Dan Quinn. That bodes well for future free agency periods for the Falcons should Quinn find success as Atlanta’s head coach.