One trade, cut, signing Atlanta Falcons should make

The Falcons made their first significant move of the offseason on Tuesday by releasing tight end Jonnu Smith. The seven-year vet set career highs in receptions (50) and receiving yards (582) in 2023.

That won't be the only change coming to the team as it tries to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. With free agency and the NFL Draft looming in March and April, here are three more moves Atlanta should make.

TRADE: 2024 second-round pick (No. 43 overall) and 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 110 overall) and 2025 third-round pick for Justin Fields and 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 111 overall)

One way or another, the Falcons will upgrade at quarterback this offseason. For this exercise, Atlanta gets scared off in the bidding war for the No. 1 overall pick and instead trades a less substantial haul to the Bears for Fields. The Bears, which have two first-rounders, get back into the second round after trading its pick to the Commanders for edge-rusher Montez Sweat and also move up one spot in the fourth round.

CUT: Running back Cordarrelle Patterson

Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier squeezed Patterson out of backfield touches in 2024, making the veteran back expendable. After averaging 12.8 touches per game in his first two seasons with the Falcons, Patterson's production plummeted in 2024 as he only averaged 4.2 touches per game. The NFL's all-time leader in kick return touchdowns, Patterson is also being phased out as a special teams ace by league rules. He only has 16 kickoff returns over the past two seasons and set career lows in returns (seven) and yards per return (21.9) in 2023. 

SIGNING: Vikings edge rusher Danielle Hunter

The Falcons defense was one of the most improved units in the league last season, but the unit could still use help manufacturing a pass rush. Despite ranking 10th in pressure rate in 2023, Atlanta finished last in ESPN's pass-rush win-rate rankings. Veteran defensive end Calais Campbell, 37, led the team with 6.5 sacks along with edge Bud Dupree, and both are 2024 free agents after they signed one-year deals last offseason. Hunter had a career-high 16.5 sacks and also led the league with 23 tackles for loss in 2023. Since being drafted in 2015, he has had five seasons with at least 10 sacks.