Falcons should take low-risk flyer on Trey Lance trade

With Lance trending towards potentially opening the season as the third-string quarterback behind starter Brock Purdy and free-agent signee Sam Darnold, the Atlanta Falcons would be wise to swoop in and make a buy-low bid for the former No. 3 overall pick. 

The Falcons are set to enter the 2023 season with second-year pro Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback. A four-year starter in college at Cincinnati, Ridder remains a relatively unknown commodity at the pro level. In four starts as a rookie, Ridder did little to dazzle, tossing just two touchdowns on 115 attempts. 

A day two selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ridder's leash is bound to be shorter than most sophomore starting quarterbacks. Former Washington Commanders fan-favorite Taylor Heinicke could get some looks this season if Ridder falters, but he remains best suited to serve in a backup role. 

The Falcons have invested heavily in offensive weaponry in recent seasons. From 2020 to 2021 they used back-to-back top-10 picks on pass catchers Kyle Pitts and Drake London. In this year's draft, they selected Bijan Robinson No. 8 overall, adding him to the league's third-ranked rush offense from 2022. Lance, who rushed for 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman at North Dakota State, would make Atlanta's rushing attack ever the more lethal.  

Still just 23 years old, Lance presents low-risk, high reward at what is bound to be a reduced asking price. Striking a deal for the two-time FCS champion would enable the Falcons an additional opportunity to find their quarterback of the future before opting to invest a first-round pick on one in next year's draft.