Realistic Draft Trade Possibilities for the Atlanta Falcons

Thomas Dimitroff is going to make a trade in the 2015 NFL draft. The Atlanta Falcons general manager has yet to pass up the opportunity to make a trade during his seven-year tenure. Because Dimitroff has always made a trade, the Falcons are often at the forefront of trade rumors.

There are quite a few different possibilities for Falcons trades this coming draft, but all of them should fit into one of five categories. As we run down the different scenarios, we'll assign the likelihood of each one based on previous occurrences and the logic behind whether it makes sense for this year or not.

Atlanta Trades Up in the Late Rounds for a Guy They Really Like

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

This is the most common trade under Thomas Dimitroff's reign as general manager. The Falcons have traded up in the fifth round or later a total of four times during the seven-year tenure—all of them in the last five years.

Based on that, if someone is available in the latter part of the fifth round, the Falcons trading up to secure their favorite player left on their board seems like an almost certainty. Players like Ben Heeney, Rakeem Nunez-Roches or even Max Valles could be great options for the Falcons to trade up for late.

Giving up their sixth and the seventh-round pick that they acquired from the Rams as part of the Desmond Trufant trade seems like the kind of move that the Falcons would make—mainly because it's the same move that the Falcons have made the past two seasons.

Likelihood: Very Likely (80 percent)

Atlanta Trades Down in the 3rd to Recover 2016 Fifth-Round Pick

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

This is an unlikely situation for the Falcons. During Thomas Dimitroff's first seven drafts, he has traded down just two times. Both times were toward the middle or late part of the draft. The Falcons would be wise to try to do it in 2015 because they could re-coup a future pick in the fifth round of the 2016 draft.

The Falcons were docked their 2016 fifth-round pick due to the Decibacle scandal where they were pumping noise into the stadium. In order to re-coup the pick they lost, trading down in the third round would be an ideal spot for them to re-gain a pick in the fourth or fifth round of the 2016 draft.

Trading down in the third round would take them out of range for someone who would slip to the top of the third but could keep them in range for a talented running back should they choose to wait on one until the third round. Options would include Jay Ajayi or David Johnson there.

Likelihood: Unlikely (30 percent)

Atlanta Trades Down from No. 8 to Pick Up More Picks Later in the Draft

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The last time the Falcons traded down during the first round of the NFL draft was during the 1997 edition. That's almost two decades ago. This could be a legitimate move should the Falcons miss out on one of the top "Leo" fits in Vic Beasley, Bud Dupree or Dante Fowler.

A trade down in the first round hasn't happened under Thomas Dimitroff's reign as general manager in Atlanta because he's a big believer in getting his guy in the first round. He seemingly takes the best fit for the Falcons that he can based on what his coach's schemes are.

If the Falcons feel like they can trade down, still get a guy that fits their team perfectly and pick up a second-round pick or even a third-round pick, the Falcons should do it. Getting someone like Beasley while also adding another second-round pick to take someone like Ali Marpet would be a huge coup.

Likelihood: Very Unlikely (15 percent)

Atlanta Trades Up into the Bottom of the First Round

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One move that could potentially happen is the Falcons trading up from 42 overall into the bottom of the first round. This move does make some sense if one of the running backs like Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley slips to the latter part of round one—in that 27-to-32 range.

The trade up for Sam Baker was the only time that Thomas Dimitroff traded up into the back end of the first round. After seeing how that backfired, it doesn't really make too much sense for the Falcons to trade up into the first round unless they absolutely love the prospect.

Losing a second-round pick as well as either a fourth or third-round pick just to move up and take someone who is only marginally better than who they might take at the top of the second round just doesn't make any sense considering the current state of the Falcons.

Likelihood: Very Unlikely (15 percent)

Atlanta Trades Up to the Top Four for the Best "Leo" Fit in the Draft

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The big rumor it seems every single year is how Thomas Dimitroff and the Atlanta Falcons are going to trade up for a top talent. And in two of Dimitroff's seven drafts so far, the Falcons have traded up for a higher first-round pick. However, it's not the right move for this year's draft.

2015's draft feels very similar to 2012's or 2009's in that it's not going to have the transcendent talents at the top worth trading up for like 2011 did. The Falcons would be wise to stay at No. 8 or trade down. In almost every scenario being run, one of Dante Fowler, Bud Dupree or Vic Beasley falls to the Falcons.

Considering the Falcons' biggest need is for a true "Leo" defensive end, it would be one of them that they would trade up for. But when a team has three that all make sense to take at No. 8, the hope is that one of them falls—especially if another team makes a surprising pick in the top 7.

Likelihood: Unlikely (30 percent)

All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He's also a Draft Analyst for Pro Football Spot.

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