One trade each NFL team must make before the deadline

Atlanta Falcons: Jimmie Ward from 49ers for 5th Round pick

The Falcons are down both starting safeties, with Keanu Neal (torn ACL) and Ricardo Allen (torn Achilles) each injured by the end of Week 3. Their defense is just generally beat up all-around, and the secondary can’t hold up. A move to get Earl Thomas would have been obvious, but he’s out for the season (most likely) with a broken left leg suffered in Week 4.

Ward has started games at cornerback and safety over four-plus NFL seasons, albeit at something less than an All-Pro level at both spots. But that versatility has value, and the 49ers don’t seem to know what to do with him going into each year. In the final year of his contract, but making $8.5 million, trading for him won’t be for everybody. But San Francisco was open to moving him during the preseason, and they could surely be engaged again on Ward as the trade deadline nears.

It would not, or should not, take a bounty to get Ward. As the 49ers start to look toward 2019 with a full compliment of healthy players, being able to get an extra mid-to-late round draft pick for him should get a deal done pretty easily. The Falcons should be in line to add anything and virtually anyone they can to their defense.