The Atlanta Falcons were expected to be a pretty awful team coming into this season. Instead, they hold a decent 3-3 record, and they could end up being in the hunt for a wild card playoff spot in the NFC.
However, their wins have come against relatively weak competition in the form of the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans. While their running game has been strong, thanks in part to rookie star Bijan Robinson, much of the rest of their game is lacking.
Atlanta did recently make a move to get better when it acquired wide receiver Van Jefferson from the Los Angeles Rams. Jefferson was a very good WR2 behind Cooper Kupp when the Rams won the Super Bowl two seasons ago, and he should give young quarterback Desmond Ridder some much-needed support in the passing game.
One area the Falcons have struggled in is their passing defense, where they’re 27th in touchdowns given up. Enzo Flojo of ClutchPoints suggests they should make a play for Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver.
“He is a former top-10 draft pick from the class of 2019,” Flojo wrote regarding Oliver. “Sure, he may not have consistently maintained elite performance levels. Still, he has certainly made his mark in Buffalo as a disruptive force in the pass-rushing department.
“Oliver possesses a unique combination of strength, agility, and athleticism. This has translated into an impressive stat line of 175 tackles, 18.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 11 passes defended over his first five seasons.”
Flojo did note the fact that the Bills are in win-now mode would make it less likely, at least in theory, that they would say yes to a trade involving Oliver. But perhaps some draft capital would be enough for them to say yes, especially if they manage to secure an upgrade to their front seven, or a replacement for Oliver, elsewhere.
Oliver has never had more than 5.0 sacks in a season since entering the NFL for the 2019 season. However, he has 4.0 sacks through six games this year, as well as nine quarterback hits and nine tackles for loss. At age 25, his timeline could match that of a young Falcons team that is building for the next several years.
With the NFC looking somewhat shallow outside of the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, this could be the time for Atlanta to strike and help ensure it makes the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
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