Watching the Falcons tonight made me ponder how the drafts might’ve worked out differently if Watson stuck to his original choice to be traded to Atlanta. The reported deal was either 3 #1’s and a #2, or 3 #1’s and a premium starter (rumors included CB AJ Terrell or TE Kyle Pitts).
In 2022, Texans had #3 (Stingley) and Falcons #8 (choice of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, or Drake London). Falcons 2nd rounder was #43 (pick before Metchie).
In 2023, Falcons picked #8 again (Bijan, Jalen Carter also on the board). *Also in 2023, Texans gave up #33 to get Will Anderson, and the Cards-Lions-Titans trade the pick ended up being TE Sam LaPorta).
In 2024, Falcons picked #8 again (QB Penix, but Odunze, 2 OTs, and Byron Murphy were picked in that area). *Texans also gave up #27 to get Will Anderson, which was DE Darius Robinson but Worthy was very next pick). **Texans traded Browns’ pick #23 (WR Brian Thomas) for Kamari Lassiter and one year rental Stephon Diggs.
So from the Browns and Will Anderson trades, the Texans acquired:
Kenyon Green,
John Metchie,
Will Anderson Jr.,
Kamari Lassiter,
1 year of Diggs.
The Falcons trade (and not doing Will Anderson trade) could’ve netted them:
Garrett Wilson,
John Metchie, (or AJ Terrell or Kyle Pitts)
Bijan Robinson or Jalen Carter,
Sam LaPorta,
Odunze or Byron Murphy or OT
DE Darius Robinson or Xavier Worthy
Getting CJ weapons such as Wilson, Bijan, LaPorta, maybe Worthy along with Byron Murphy or an OT would be fun to watch. Swap out Terrell or Pitts for Metchie and damn! Kenyon Green sucks, Diggs is a rental, so hopefully Anderson and Lassiter play well enough to make it equal or better to the ATL offer.