As soon as Cleveland Browns’ defensive end Myles Garrett took to social media to announce that he has officially requested a trade all the other 31 teams in the NFL and their fan bases immediately started to think if they can somehow bring in the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Well, Atlanta Falcons fans aren’t the only ones that think Myles Garrett could end up being a Falcon next season because writer for NFLMedia and NFL.com Eric Edholm had the Falcons on his list of the nine best team fits for the Cleveland Browns' All-Pro edge rusher, and earlier today Edholm joined The Morning Shift and gave a few reasons why he thinks the Falcons could be a good fit for the six time All-Pro.
1.) He’ll be “playing in a division that’s imminently winnable”
Even with the fall off of Kirk Cousins last season the Falcons still had a chance at the postseason all the way up to their regular season finale, and now that Falcons have given the keys to the offense to the promising quarterback talent that is Michael Penix Jr. who will still be surrounded by a very good offensive line, Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Drake London, and Darnell Mooney, next season this Falcons’ offense should not go through the midseason struggles it went through last season with Kirk Cousins.
Defensively the Falcons’ pass rush finished with second fewest sacks in the NFL at 31, but the Falcons front seven started racking up sacks and showing a lot of promise after their bye week, and adding Myles Garrett would certainly help carry that momentum into next season.
All in all, an offense that was explosive once Penix took over, and a defense that performed well after the bye week adding Myles Garrett would definitely result in a contending Falcons team that could win a weaker NFC South division that Edholm called “imminently winnable”, and ultimately be contenders.
2.) He’ll instantly become the “face” of a Falcons defense that still “has some talented guys” on it
The Falcons do have a lot of free agents on the defensive side of the ball, but Jessie Bates, A.J. Terrell, Kaden Elliss, Arnold Ebiketie, and Grady Jarrett will all be back next season, and adding a six time All-Pro would make for a dangerous defensive unit.
3.) He’ll be playing in the covered Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta & “not playing in outdoor cold weather city”
His stats and awards tell you playing in the elements hasn’t affected him, but Garrett has been affected by injuries these past few seasons, and playing in the covered Mercedes-Benz Stadium could help that ever so slightly, plus living in Atlanta isn’t so bad.
The Falcons will have to figure out the financial aspect of bringing in the eight-year NFL veteran, but multiple NFL teams have shown that if you really want to trade for or sign a player there are various methods to make the salary cap a non-factor. Time will also tell whether or not Garrett views the Falcons as serious contenders, and if Atlanta will be one of his desired destinations, but you can easily make an argument for the Falcons being a good landing spot for the perennial All-Pro.