Atlanta Falcons: Declining Trades Was a Miscalculation
Desmond Trufant
Cornerback Desmond Trufant also was rumored to be drawing interest on the trade market. He has the second-highest cap number on the Atlanta Falcons roster at 13.9 million dollars.
Trufant is scheduled to count 15.2, 16.2, and 14.2 million dollars towards the team’s books over the next three seasons. The fact that he has missed the last three games suffering from turf toe, likely complicated any attempts of Atlanta to shed his contract in exchange for a draft pick.
Possible CB trade targets:
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) October 16, 2019
-Chris Harris (30, Contract yr)
-Desmond Trufant (29, pricey)
-Jimmy Smith (31, hurt, odd man out?)
-Quincy Wilson (23, buried)
-Terrance Mitchell (CLE CB4)
-Trumaine Johnson (bad contract)
-Janoris Jenkins (30)
-Artie Burns (buried, fresh start?)
Alex Mack
Center Alex Mack is another player that could have possibly drawn a late-round draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons. Moving him also would have cleared nearly six million dollars off of their cap this season and the nearly 11 million dollars remaining on his contract next season.
However trading Alex Mack would have created a hole at center. The team could resign Wes Schweitzer and play him there, but he’s a shaky option at best.
The Atlanta Falcons could also movie rookie Chris Lindstrom to center upon his return from injury. This would leave free agent signings Jamon Brown and James Carpenter at the guard positions.