Terry Fontenot. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons GM addresses trading No. 8 pick

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/25/23

If you had to wager on a team trading its pick inside the top 10 of the 2023 NFL Draft, sportsbooks would tell you the smart money is on the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3.

But according to Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot, he’s had discussions about trading both up and back, and the Falcons’ No. 8 pick could be available for the right price.

"We've already talked to a couple teams after us because we want to be open," Fontenot told reporters during Tuesday’s pre-draft news conference. "We've talked to teams in front of us and behind us. We'll continue to have those conversations - we want to be flexible. It's our job just to be prepared for whatever happens.”

Fontenot’s phone could be ringing off the hook if any of the draft’s top four quarterbacks — Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis or Anthony Richardson — make it past the Las Vegas Raiders at pick No. 7.

Several teams have reportedly discussed moving up for a QB including Tennessee (No. 11), Tampa Bay (No. 19) and Minnesota (No. 23).

Fontenot reiterated Tuesday what many scouts and draft experts have been saying for weeks: There may be more uncertainty with the 2023 draft than there’s been in years.

#Falcons Terry Fontenot: You're not grading on a curve. You want an impact player. If you say a player at X position will be an impact player, you take that over a depth player at Y position. At the end of the day, we want to make sure we're taking impact players.
— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) April 25, 2023

Should Atlanta stay put, the team has plenty of needs it can fill including edge rusher, offensive guard, safety, receiver and cornerback. Fontenot made it clear that he’s not married to a specific player or position, and that he’s focused on taking the best player available.

“When we say best player available, the key is don’t reach for need,” Fontenot added. “We’re not drafting just for today or tomorrow — we’re not prisoners of the moment — we’re drafting for the next four to five years. And your needs change day to day. We want to make sure we’re thinking long-term and big-picture.”

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