FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — As it stands, the Atlanta Falcons own a franchise-low five picks for the 2025 NFL Draft.
If the Falcons do only make five selections, it would match the 2006 draft as the fewest in the organization's history. Of course, that can change. Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot is very aware of that fact and has mentioned it ever since the 2024 season ended. He likely was thinking about it even before, too, since the Falcons entered last season without their third- and fifth-round picks.
"We can pick up some draft picks," Fontenot said in January. "We're picking at (No.) 15, so obviously we can move down and pick up more capital in the first or second round or wherever that is, and so, we'll have those discussions and determine."
The Falcons do indeed pick at No. 15 in the first round – the longest they'll wait for a Day 1 selection since 2020, the year before Fontenot came to Atlanta. Otherwise, the Falcons will pick again at No. 46 in Round 2, No. 118 in Round 4 and Nos. 218 and 242 in Round 7.
"We can end up with more than that, but you just never know," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said last week at the NFL's Annual League Meetings. "You go into it knowing you have five."
The Falcons' five draft picks are the second fewest in the NFL, tied with the Washington Commanders. The Minnesota Vikings have the fewest with four. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers have the most draft picks with 11 apiece.
Eight or 10 picks tend to be the most common. Seven teams have eight picks. Another seven have 10. The average across the board is eight picks.
Atlanta will probably want to find a trade partner with more picks than itself, because such a team might be more willing to part with one. By the numbers, alone, that should be easy.
"We just have to make sure that we're as effective, whether it's the draft, free agency, extensions — everything that we're doing," Fontenot said. "We have to be effective with each one of those moves so we can put this team in position to win."
Fontenot has never made a first-round trade since joining the Falcons in 2021. The No. 15 overall pick is obviously his biggest negotiating piece. He could possibly find someone in the general manager seat elsewhere who wants No. 15 in exchange for a later first-round selection paired with a later round selection.
For example, the Jacksonville Jaguars did something similar last year. They traded the No. 17 overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings, moved back to No. 23 and gained No. 167 in Round 5, along with third- and fourth-rounders for 2025. So, the Jaguars netted out plus-one in 2024 and plus-two in 2025.
Perhaps an easier example to follow with no future picks involved would be from 2023. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded the No. 14 overall pick to the New England Patriots, moved back to No. 17 and gained No. 120 in Round 4. A net plus-one to move back just three spots.
What will be interesting is whether Fontenot tries to trade back, specifically in the first round. His mentor, New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, has repeatedly gone on the record that he prefers not to trade back, regardless of the round. Loomis' record itself proves that, too. He has not traded back since 2007; he has traded up 27 times since then.
"I think there are cases where dropping back makes some sense to get more picks," Loomis said before last year’s draft. "I just think in our case, most of the time it's just been a move too far back. If you move back two or three or four spots, probably the level of player is similar. If you're moving back eight to 10, I think often times you're dropping down a class. If you believe in your board, you believe in the evaluations that your staff has done, then it's just hard for me to grasp getting a lesser player, talent-wise."
In his four drafts as Falcons general manager, Fontenot has traded back once. It happened in his first year with the Falcons. Hasn't happened again.
Below is a complete breakdown of all Fontenot's day-of draft trades in Atlanta.
Note: All trades involved picks from that year's draft alone.
2021 – TRADE BACK
Falcons receive:
- Round 2, Pick 40: DB Richie Grant
- Round 4, Pick 114: C Drew Dalman
Denver Broncos receive:
- Round 2, Pick 35: RB Javonte Wiliams
- Round 6, Pick 219: WR Seth Williams
2022 – TRADE UP
Falcons receive:
- Round 2, Pick 38: LB Arnold Ebiketie
New York Giants receive:
- Round 2, Pick 43: WR Wan'Dale Robinson
- Round 4, No. 114: DB Dane Belton
2023 — TRADE UP
Falcons receive:
- Round 2, Pick 38: OL Matthew Bergeron
Indianapolis Colts receive:
- Round 2, Pick 44: DB Julius Brents
- Round 4, Pick 110: DT Adetomiwa Adebawore
2024 — TRADE UP
Falcons receive:
- Round 2, Pick 35: DE Ruke Orhorhoro
- Round 6, Pick 186: RB Jase McClellan
Arizona Cardinals receive:
- Round 2, Pick 43: DB Max Melton
- Round 3, Pick 79: Traded to Colts
Recent history under Fontenot shows the Falcons haven't ever increased their total pick quantity through a trade. Actually, in two of the instances, they lost a pick in the process, but that's to be expected when trading up in the draft as they did.
This time, they are looking to be the beneficiary of another team's aggressive mindset. Atlanta can flip the script from previous years and gain in a 1-for-2 swap, just like other teams have done in the previous examples.
There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to the draft and each year can be vastly different, especially when trades are introduced. Because not only would the Falcons need to find another team open to working out a deal, they'd need to find one that has picks that'll keep them within range of desired prospects. And one that wants a player in the range Atlanta is looking to move out of. There are a lot of moving parts to make a deal work. Can't just trade to trade.
As for who the Falcons will choose, at least that seems narrowed down.
"The emphasis during the draft will be certainly on the defensive side of the ball," Blank said. "It's pretty obvious to everybody, I would say."
