Atlanta has five draft picks and may try gain more if another team is willing to trade.

Terrin Waack

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. With a franchise-low five picks, the second-fewest in the 2025 NFL Draft, the temptation to trade is possibly higher than ever for Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot.

Back in the order, too. Not up, like Fontenot has done in each of the last three years with a second-round base point. Being willing to drop backward would offer the best opportunity to pick up more capital and therefore more talent in a year when Atlanta's free agency moves were financially savvy rather than splashy out of necessity.

"If there's trades available, if you can move down in the first or second round and it makes sense to us, we'll do it," Fontenot said Wednesday in his annual pre-draft press conference. "But we'll also have the confidence and conviction to take that player off the board if it makes sense to us."

Right now, the Falcons have the No. 15 overall pick in Round 1, No. 46 in Round 2, No. 118 in Round 4 and Nos. 218 and 242 in Round 7. That's two picks between Thursday and Friday, then three Saturday.

For comparison, the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers own the most picks with 11 each. The 49ers have four picks between Thursday and Friday, while the Ravens have three. There are nine teams total with a double-digit count, making them the best negotiating partners for the Falcons.

"We have a chart, basically, on the tendencies of every general manager based off their drafts," Fontenot said. "So, you can know who's more aggressive, like, 'What's the rate of this GM? 70% of the time they move up, this percentage they move down.' You want to know who's actually willing to make a trade."

The teams that are draft rich could also be interested in trading for a mix of present and future picks. It's important to remember no matter how many rookies get brought into an organization, the roster limit for the season remains at 53.

For example, the Falcons drafted eight players in 2024. One did not make the cut.

"It just kind of depends on where you are as a team," Fontenot said. "Because what you want to do is you want to make sure those guys can make your team ... some people can't handle that many picks."

Another aspect to consider with making a trade this year is the depth of the draft. The caliber of prospects remaining late in the first round could be similar to those available early in the second round. That could make it more difficult to find a partner who's willing to move one way or another in general.

The key word there, though, is willing. The Falcons may want to make moves. Others may not. No one will truly know until the board begins to play out.

"Sometimes you want to do it, it makes sense, but it's not like on the draft simulator when you can just force the trades and do what you want," Fontenot said. "You know, this is real life. But that is something that obviously we'll consider."

Up Next

Videos

Terry Fontenot shares insights ahead of 2025 NFL Draft

Videos

Draft Preview Extravaganza! Falcons experts make their 1st round picks

Videos

Full Falcons draft preview & first round predictions | Falcons Audible Podcast

Videos

Atlanta Falcons are back for the offseason program

Videos

Top Edge rusher prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft | Arch's Top Prospects

Videos

Who will the Atlanta Falcons pick in the 1st Round? | Tori McElhaney's Mock Draft | 2025 NFL Draft

Videos

Draft week kickoff! What moves the Falcons could make in all 7 rounds | Atlanta Falcons Podcast

Videos

On the Rise | S5E1 | Behind the scenes of the Atlanta Falcons NFL Scouting Combine and Free Agency

Videos

Top Atlanta Falcons Cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft | Arch's Top Prospects

Videos

Top Defensive & Offensive line prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft | Arch's Top Prospects

Videos

Falcons join Compassion International on a life-changing trip to the Dominican Republic

Videos

Every Julio Jones catch from NFC Championship game vs. Packers | Highlights

Videos

Julio Jones joins D-BLOCK | Throwback

Videos

Every catch from Julio Jones' career high 300-yard game against the Panthers | Highlights

Videos

Every Julio Jones Touchdown for the Falcons | Highlights

Videos

Thank you, Julio | Taking Atlanta to new heights

Videos

MUST WATCH: Julio Jones makes INSANE catch on Luke Kuechly | Highlights

Videos

Julio Jones' Top 10 plays | Highlights

Videos

Julio Jones' epic toe-tap catch in Superbowl LI | Highlights

Videos

JD Bertrand and Falcons host a field day event with Uplfting Athletes on 404 Day

Videos

Raheem Morris speaks to the media at the Annual League Meeting | Press conference

Videos

Mailbag time! How can the Falcons "replace" Grady Jarrett? | Atlanta Falcons Podcast Network

Videos

What to expect from the newest Falcons acquired in Free Agency | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Watermelons, Barndominiums and Leonard Floyd's return to Atlanta | Falcons in Focus

Videos

Leonard Floyd Introductory Press Conference | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Michael Penix Jr., Michael Vick, Kyle Pitts, and Jessie Bates III mic'd up for TGL Playoffs | NFL

Videos

What to make of the Atlanta Falcons' start to free agency | Atlanta Falcons Podcast Network

Videos

Jordan Fuller top career highlights | Welcome to Atlanta

Videos

How fast is fast? Kyle Pitts gets behind the wheel at Sonoma Raceway in California | Pittstop Ep. 4

Videos

Morgan Fox top career highlights | Welcome to Atlanta

Videos

Divine Deablo top career highlights | Welcome to Atlanta

Videos

Leonard Floyd top career highlights | Welcome to Atlanta

Videos

Rapoport: Leonard Floyd heading to Falcons on one-year deal, 'Free Agency Frenzy'

Videos

Atlanta Falcons release Grady Jarrett Instant Reactions

Videos

Thank you, Grady Jarrett | The Hometown Kid

Videos

5 Wide Receivers the Atlanta Falcons could consider in Free Agency | Atlanta Falcons Podcast Network

Videos

5 Defensive Tackles the Falcons could consider in Free Agency | Atlanta Falcons Podcast Network

Videos

Daniel Jeremiah breaks down his top 12 standout performers | 2025 NFL Scouting Combine

Videos

Best of Offensive Line | 2025 NFL Scouting Combine

Videos

Best of Cornerback prospects broad and vertical jumps | 2025 NFL Scouting Combine