NFL Draft Rumors: Falcons looking to trade No. 17 pick?

The Atlanta Falcons, who hold the 17th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, are open to trading down for more picks later.

With the NFL Draft kicking off in just under one week, we seem to have a firm idea of which teams will be drafting at what spots when the first round gets underway Thursday…or do we?

The Atlanta Falcons, who are currently slated to pick 17th in the first round, are reportedly open to trading down from that pick in order to get others in later rounds either this year or next year, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

"“We think there are some good opportunities all the way into the third round,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said on Thursday. “It does present options to potentially move back.”“We look at all of the different scenarios and having fewer picks this year, we think the draft has some really good strength from 15 on.”"

Moving back has helped the Falcons in the past, as it has helped them land players such as Julio Jones, who the team selected in the 2011 draft. Currently, the Falcons are tied with the Los Angeles Rams for the fewest number of picks in this year’s draft (just five total for all seven rounds).

If the Falcons do stick with the 17th pick in the first round, most mock drafts have them taking a linebacker at that position, with named including Georgia’s Leonard Floyd, Alabama’s Reggie Ragland and Ohio State’s Darron Lee. With all three likely to be available at that spot and later, it might make sense for Atlanta to listen to offers and make a move.

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