What is the impact of the Falcons trade for Jordan Richards? The Falcons trade for Jordan Richards will probably go down as the surprise of roster cut weekend for this team. It was a completely unexpected move http://www.atlantafalconsteamonline.com/matt-ryan-jersey , one that had immediate repercussions and is worth breaking down in more detail.So let’s do that right now. Where does Jordan Richards fit in? Opinions on Ron Parker’s preseason success were divided. I thought he had a fairly rough preseason, all told, with that missed tackle against the Dolphins and some coverage miscues that were really only noteworthy because they came against deep reserves. I wouldn’t have blamed the Falcons if they had shrugged that off, given Parker’s veteran status and track record, and kept him as the fourth safety.They didn’t, and it might have been because what Parker brought to the table wasn’t what they wanted by the end of preseason. Richards is undeniably a worse option in coverage than Parker, and it would be fair to suggest that he’s an inferior defender in general. But he is a capable special teamer, and the Falcons have been hellbent on assembling a group of those this offseason. With the team set to find as much time as they possibly can for Damontae Kazee, chances are good that Richards will only have a handful of snaps per game and as many as he can handle on special teams. The Falcons will hope they can coax better things out of him as a safety, and they’ll have to really hope they don’t need to rely on him as a defender before they get there. But for the price of a conditional seventh rounder in 2020, they’ve added yet another interesting ST option for a unit that also added Russell Gage and Justin Bethel this offseason, and a safety with at least some upside. What was he like as a Patriot?Pats Pulpit, our drunk on success Patriots site here at SB Nation Calvin Ridley Jersey Limited , was kind enough to give us a pretty detailed look at what Richards brings to the table from the perspective of someone who has watched him play for years. Here’s Pats Pulpit editor Bernd Buchmasser on Richards, who was fighting for a roster spot this summer. The sense that you get here is that Richards was a bit of a draft bust, and the lack of athleticism is a particularly concerning note given that the Falcons typically prize it. It’s wise to keep expectations manageable in light of everything we know about him, but as I noted above, the Falcons presumably have a plan that doesn’t involve exposing him to a ton of playing time on defense in 2018. We’ll find out if the compensation, meager as it is, was a worthwhile investment or a very small mistake. Obviously, we all hope the former.NFL trade deadline: Could the Falcons make a move if the season continues spiraling? With the Falcons at 1-4 and basically looking at every game on the schedule in the foreseeable future as “must win,” the buzzing around the Falcons beehive wonders if the trade deadline might come into play.Historically, the Falcons are mum around this time of year, even when they’re fielding a clear playoff team that might be a piece away from being perfect.Whether it’s just GM Thomas Dimitroff’s general desire not to trade players in-season or just a routine of not being interested when the moment strikes, it’s been radio silence during the trade season of mid-October to early November traditionally for the Birds. They’ve not had a season like this since 2014, where the wheels are falling off and the train heads nowhere fast http://www.atlantafalconsteamonline.com/calvin-ridley-jersey , so one wonders in a more trade-happy NFL if the team could want to move anyone before the Oct. 30 deadline approaches. RB Tevin Coleman The first name that pops up would, of course, be RB Tevin Coleman, who has an expiring contract in March and who doesn’t appear to be destined to stick around with Devonta Freeman in the early parts of an extension and Ito Smith looking like a more-than-worthy successor. There seems to be a rash of injuries spreading around the league right now at the running back position, and any playoff team would no doubt love to have Coleman on a rental basis. Though, this one feels unlikely, if only because we still have no idea if the Falcons aren’t secretly wanting to figure out a way to keep Coleman around. Freeman’s health hasn’t been sterling in the time since his extension. That’s not to say it’ll stay that way, but it is something that makes you wonder what happens with the guaranteed money runs out on his extension. Do you really want to let Coleman walk and then have to release Freeman a year or two later because he’s struggled to stay on the field? If Free can’t get healthy, they’re reliant on Ito Smith and Brian Hill to get the job done. Right now, it’d probably take a second or third rounder for Atlanta to even consider trading Coleman. They’re guaranteed at least a fourth in compensation if he walks, and they might want to see how Freeman’s 2018 progresses health-wise before they let him out the door for good. This feels highly unlikely unless a desperate team blows Atlanta away with an offer. DE Vic Beasley This is where things get interesting. It’s no secret that Vic Beasley isn’t having the best 2018, and that’s being said after an underwhelming 2017. We don’t know exactly what’s going on with Beasley right now, but he’s not getting consistent pressures or hits on the quarterbacksand his sack tally isn’t good enough for someone of his potential and past numbers. The Falcons have a huge decision to make on Beasley’s fifth-year option. He’s due to make $12.8 million in 2019 http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-de_vondre-campbell-jersey , and though I’m a Beasley fan and defender, the team just can’t pay that for what Beasley is doing at the moment. He’s invisible for roughly half the game, and really only gets four or five snaps an outing where he really looks like he’s close to making a play. That’s obviously not good enough, and really not good enough for one of the biggest cap hits on the team. You hope he can figure it out and that he can get back to being the Beasley of old, but there is no doubt a probable playoff team out there (cough Los Angeles, Kansas City, New England, etc. cough) who could use some help off the edge. As my colleague Matt Chambers noted, teams could get a look at what Beasley’s capable of through a half-season and playoffs and see if they want to kick in that fifth-year option. If not, they could release Beasley and he, no doubt, would find a new team to latch onto, being the 2016 sack leader and all and still having sky-high potential. The Falcons could get that cap space back for the future with the deals they have coming up and could maybe get a third or fourth rounder in return. Any Others? A pass-rush needy team could see if a fifth or sixth rounder would be enough to snag DE Brooks Reed Youth Keanu Neal Jersey , though he’s right now the second-best pass rusher on the roster. DE Derrick Shelby feels more likely, as he’s on an expiring deal and is probably in his last year here. He could help someone in run support for certain. Soon-to-be free agent WR Justin Hardy could help a team that’s lacking at receiver (the Tennessee Titans immediately come to mind, as old Falcons QBs coach Matt LaFleur is their OC now). Though, the team standing pat on trading TE Tony Gonzalez all those years ago to a contender after the 2013 season went haywire makes me wonder if that’s just not a future Dimitroff wants to see. It sends a message to the locker room when you trade a starter or valuable rotational piece mid-season, and not a good one at that. One wonders if Atlanta will just choose to roll with what they’ve got through December (or, heck, maybe January if things really do get weird), even if someone comes calling.