The Atlanta Falcons are officially buyers at the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
For a team built around a young quarterback, an aggressive defense, and a head coach who’s changed the locker room culture overnight, this trade deadline is time for the Falcons to buy.
And if they want to keep pace in a loaded NFC, general manager Terry Fontenot needs to make one thing happen before the deadline: go get a cornerback.
NFL’s Kevin Patra put it bluntly: “With rookie Billy Bowman Jr. injured, this group could still use another veteran, given how Mike Hughes and Dee Alford have struggled for stretches.”
He’s right. A.J. Terrell remains a top 10 corner when healthy. But behind him the reliability drops fast.
Atlanta has survived because of how well Raheem Morris’ group plays as a unit. But when teams start throwing deeper, more aggressively, that cohesion can only cover up so much.
Riq Woolen: The High Ceiling Swing
GettySeahawks CB Riq Woolen
If you’re going to make a move, make one that changes your ceiling. Seattle’s Riq Woolen, the 6 foot 4 corner with track level speed, is that type of swing.
“They’ve been wanting to move him for a while,” one executive said. “He doesn’t fit what [Mike Macdonald] wants to do.”
Raheem Morris’ defense thrives on length, aggression, and confidence, three traits Woolen has excelled it.
Sure he’s not a perfect player and his tackling and eye discipline need work. But the talent is real. In four seasons, he’s produced 11 interceptions and 30 pass breakups.
Pairing Woolen’s speed with Terrell’s technique could give the Falcons one of the NFC’s most balanced cornerback duos, and the freedom to dial up pressure on every down.
If the Falcons Want Reliable Instead of Flashy
GettyAtlanta Falcons
Not every trade needs to be a blockbuster. There are a couple of quieter names who could stabilize Atlanta’s secondary without wrecking future draft capital.
Michael Carter II of the Jets makes sense if the Falcons are looking for slot help. He’s a tough, compact nickel corner who plays with leverage and effort, and he’s steady against the run. His $4 million injury guarantee in 2026 complicates things, but he’s the kind of “do your job” player Atlanta could use right now.
Then there’s Roger McCreary in Tennessee, a physical corner who can play inside or outside. The Titans are rebuilding, and McCreary’s name has floated in trade talks since camp. He’s not a splash player, but his physicality and tackling would fit perfectly in a Morris defense that values toughness and accountability.
When a team reaches the middle of its rise, there’s always a decision point. Do you play it safe, or do you make the move that tells your locker room you believe in them?
That’s where Atlanta is right now.
Terry Fontenot doesn’t have to swing recklessly, but he does have to swing. Because this isn’t the time to stockpile picks, it’s the time to chase wins.
And if the Falcons want their season to end in January, not December, there’s only one move left to make.
Find the cornerback who completes this defense, and go get him.
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