ESPN proposes blockbuster trade for the Falcons

Training camp is typically where the hype train begins — no matter whether the team is a Super Bowl contender or not. The vibes are positive, football is around the corner, and every team still feels like they have a prayer’s chance at eternal glory.

That hasn’t really been the case in Atlanta, for a variety of reasons. Neither of the Falcons’ potential starting quarterbacks entered camp healthy. Tua Tagovailoa is dealing with a minor back injury, while Michael Penix Jr. is still weeks away from being fully cleared following the ACL injury he suffered last season.

And to really add insult to injury, Jalon Walker went down in practice earlier this week. Immediately, it felt as if the energy had been sucked out of Flowery Branch. Practice was called early. Walker buried his face in a towel as teammates embraced him, and he was carted off the field. Within hours, the ACL tear was confirmed and he was ruled out for the season.

Not only will the Falcons be without Walker, but James Pearce Jr. is also expected to receive a hefty suspension from the league following his domestic violence incident during the offseason. Atlanta now has a dire need to add to its EDGE room — but that’s not the blockbuster trade ESPN has in mind heading into the season. They believe the Falcons are better off selling, accumulating draft picks as the new regime focuses on the future.

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49ers receive: S Jessie Bates III, 2028 sixth-round pick
Falcons receive: 2027 third-round pick

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This might be the fourth different outlet I’ve seen suggest the 49ers trade with the Falcons for safety Jessie Bates III, and it’s not without reason.

Bates has been a star in Atlanta, named All-Pro in two of his three seasons with the team. This is a piece the Falcons can’t afford to lose if they’re trying to win now — but how much is this team really thinking Super Bowl?

The Falcons don’t know who their quarterback is going to be in Week 1. The defense just lost arguably its most promising young piece. They have $38 million in cap space going unspent, a number that’s expected to skyrocket next year, when they might have a better idea of the future at quarterback. And perhaps most notably, this is a new regime that doesn’t really have any pressure to win right away, even if Atlanta would desperately like to break a postseason drought dating back to 2017.

The Falcons aren’t Super Bowl contenders. They’re fringe playoff contenders in a weak division at best. Given that Bates is entering the final year of his contract and probably doesn’t have many seasons left in the league, acquiring a valuable top-100 draft pick and moving him to a contender does make sense — whether that’s now or closer to the midseason trade deadline.

The connection between Bates and former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris also adds another layer to the conversations. He’s now the defensive coordinator in San Francisco, so this is a hypothetical trade that could definitely pick up some steam at some point.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)