The Falcons have acquired wide receiver Van Jefferson from the Los Angeles Rams. As reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the trade involved late-round picks for the 2025 season in a transaction that has been officially announced by both teams.



The Falcons are hoping to revive Van Jefferson’s career. In 2021, the 6-foot-1 wideout recorded an impressive 802 yards on 50 catches with six touchdowns. It’s a calculated move with while they strive for increased offensive potency led by Desmond Ridder as they chase an NFC South title.



Despite the Falcons operating primarily as a run-first offense, they boast a talented pass-catching group, and Jefferson’s arrival is set to bolster an ensemble already featuring Drake London and tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith.



<h2>Van Jefferson Traded to Falcons as Emergence of New Talents Alters Rams’ Lineup</h2>



Van Jefferson’s departure from the Rams became imminent due to the emergence of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, which left him as the odd man out in the rotation. He was subsequently traded to the Falcons in a swap involving 2025 late-round picks, specifically sixth- and seventh-rounders.



Before Kupp’s return, Van Jefferson had already been struggling to make a significant impact. Puka Nacua’s electrifying early-season performances and Tutu Atwell’s emergence as a threat pushed Jefferson down the depth chart.



In the first four games of the season, he could only manage eight catches for 108 yards, an output that was roughly equivalent to what Nacua could achieve in a single game. This situation had relegated Jefferson to the role of the No. 4 receiver with the Rams.

Falcons Trade for Van Jefferson with Rams in Late-Round Swap of Picks

Falcons Trade for Van Jefferson with Rams in Late-Round Swap of Picks - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-top-5-most-likely-destinations-for-budda-baker-in-case-of-cardinals-exit-20230417-SPD-3582.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arizona Cardinals</a> are the latest NFL side to unveil new uniforms this week, opting for a minimalist look with an increased focus on silver accents for their jerseys. The 2023 season will see the debut of a brand new uniform for the Arizona Cardinals, who wore the previous set for 18 years.



On April 20, less than a week before this year’s <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-top-3-nfc-teams-that-need-to-make-excellent-draft-choices-20230413-SPD-3573.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFL Draft</a>, the team debuted three new jerseys with a cleaner, more minimalist aesthetic. The Cardinals have joined the growing list of teams that have decided to forgo shoulder numbers in favor of simpler stripe patterns and logos.



More and more teams in the league are opting to update their uniforms for purely cosmetic reasons; 14 clubs debuted new helmet and jersey sets in the previous season alone. Take a look at the three organizations that would be ideal for the next major redesign, according to CBS Sports.



<h2>3. Tennessee Titans</h2>



In their current uniforms, the Titans don’t stand out too much. Their trademark pale blue color really has a great deal of promise. However, since the team’s name change to the Oilers and subsequent departure from Houston, they have toned down their own flash by using darker shades of blue and grey. 



The result is a style that lacks the vibrancy of, for instance, the baby blue worn by celebrities like Warren Moon in the 1980s and 1990s.



<h2>2. Atlanta Falcons</h2>



The Falcons unveiled their new jerseys for the 2020 season just after the Buccaneers did the same, but whereas Tampa Bay sensibly returned to a more popular throwback look, Atlanta went all in on Nike’s contemporary pattern. 



The result is a bold “ATL” across the chest of the jerseys, an innovative idea that ultimately draws attention to how simplistically confusing the rest of their uniform is. From gradient alternates to blocky, shadowing numerals, the uniforms may be more annoying than attractive.



<h2>1. Washington Commanders</h2>



The Commanders are still getting acclimated to their new outfits after debuting them in 2022 when they changed their name from the Washington Football Team. Like the Falcons, the problem isn’t the colors themselves—burgundy and gold have long been considered as club mainstays—but how they’re presented.



The away uniforms of the Falcons appear exactly like those of a last-minute expansion club, with the shoulder numbers replaced by a complex color pattern and the huge “ATL” chest label replaced with a wordier “Commanders” ID.

NLF: Top 3 teams that need new uniforms for the upcoming season

NLF: Top 3 teams that need new uniforms for the upcoming season - thesportsdrops NEWS

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-sean-payton-believes-hell-return-to-coaching-but-doesnt-know-where-2277-20220719-SPD-2277.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atlanta Falcons</a> have had to say goodbye to a new player on Tuesday before he had even played a game for the team. The Falcons confirmed that defensive lineman <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/jared-goff-gets-strong-support-from-lions-hc-dan-campbell-2258-20220718-SPD-2258.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eddie Goldman</a> has notified the team of his retirement plans.



As of a little over two weeks ago, Goldman became a member of Arthur Smith’s side. The 28-year-old defensive tackle was released by Chicago at the start of the new league year, beginning a lengthy free agency that culminated in his choice to sign with the Falcons.



Goldman was about to begin a new chapter in Atlanta after spending the previous seven years with the Bears, six seasons owing to his choice to opt out of the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season. But when training camp drew near, he made a different decision and retired from the game a few months before turning 29.



<h2 id="block-65c0f68e-f09f-44cd-890b-84029dc2811d">Eddie Goldman retires after seven years in NFL</h2>



On July 6 he joined the Falcons for a single season on a one-year contract. There, he teamed up with ex-Bears general manager Ryan Pace.



As the Bears’ 39th overall choice in the 2015 NFL Draft, Goldman got off to a great start in his first season with the organization, compiling 4.5 sacks. Goldman started 73 of the 81 games he appeared in and finished with 13 sacks, 175 tackles, and two fumble recoveries throughout the course of his career.

NFL News: Eddie Goldman retires at 28 two weeks after joining Falcons

NFL News: Eddie Goldman retires at 28 two weeks after joining Falcons - thesportsdrops NEWS

The 2022 <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-playoffs-format-how-do-the-postseason-work-75-20220501-SPD-75.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFL</a> season is still a few months away from us, but with training camp looming around, the wait won’t be that long. Every season is eagerly awaited by football fans, but this time there are countless reasons to feel even more excited.



Many teams will show up with<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/russell-wilson-explains-why-he-chose-the-denver-broncos-1683-20220621-SPD-1683.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> a new quarterback</a> under center, like the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/how-many-nfl-teams-have-not-won-a-super-bowl-ring-in-their-history-97-20220502-SPD-97.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Falcons</a>. Marcus Mariota has the chance to take over for <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-rumors-falcons-interest-in-deshaun-watson-drove-matt-ryan-away-from-atlanta-360-20220504-SPD-360.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matt Ryan</a> in Atlanta, as the veteran signal-caller was traded to the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/colts-head-coach-frank-reich-sees-similarities-between-matt-ryan-peyton-manning-1513-20220614-SPD-1513.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indianapolis Colts</a>.



Mariota will face competition from rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder for the starting job, but that can wait. In the meantime, he seems to be enjoying his first months working for Arthur Smith and his staff.



<h2>Marcus Mariota says Falcons’ coaching staff challenges QBs</h2>



“I think they challenge us,” Mariota said, via Atlantafalcons.com. “They want us to understand why we run certain concepts, what coverages we’re running against. For us, it’s mentally stimulating because it’s challenging to look at it from different perspective. I think what’s really cool about Art and this staff is that they try to stimulate your mind constantly. There’s always brand new ideas. There’s always something that we always talk about. So, for me, I enjoy that part of it.”



Mariota, 28, is entering his eighth NFL season aiming to prove he can be a reliable starting quarterback in the league. Only time will tell whether Smith gets the best out of him.

NFL News: Falcons QB Marcus Mariota full of praise for Arthur Smith's methods - thesportsdrops NEWS

NFL News: Falcons QB Marcus Mariota full of praise for Arthur Smith's methods

On Friday, the Atlanta <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-playoffs-format-how-do-the-postseason-work-75-20220501-SPD-75.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Falcons</a> announced they had agreed to acquire wide receiver <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-ring-value-how-much-does-a-super-bowl-ring-cost-188-20220502-SPD-188.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bryan Edwards</a> from the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-las-vegas-raiders-sign-keelan-cole-on-one-year-deal-708-20220512-SPD-708.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Las Vegas Raiders</a>.



ESPN reports the Raiders gave up a 2023 seventh-round selection in exchange for the Falcons’ fifth choice in next season’s NFL Draft.



There were expectations that 6-foot-3 Edwards would help fill out the wide receiver positions in Las Vegas, but his rookie season was limited by lack of playing time.



<h2>Bryan Edwards moves to Atlanta Falcons</h2>



Since then, the Raiders have shifted their focus from Hunter Renfrow or Darren Waller to a wide receiver on the depth chart. Edwards, who grabbed 34 of 59 targets for 571 yards and three scores in 16 games, was a solid fit for the team (12 starts).



Meanwhile, when it comes to the depth chart of Atlanta, they have no shortage of space. Only Auden Tate, Damiere Byrd, and KhaDarel Hodge remain for the Falcons after spending a first-round draft selection on Drake London from USC.

NFL News: Raiders trade wide receiver Bryan Edwards to Falcons - thesportsdrops NEWS

NFL News: Raiders trade wide receiver Bryan Edwards to Falcons

2022 has brought us one of the craziest <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-playoffs-format-how-do-the-postseason-work-75-20220501-SPD-75.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFL</a> offseasons in recent years and it’s not even close. <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/how-many-records-does-tom-brady-hold-complete-list-of-the-quarterback-records-in-nfl-195-20220502-SPD-195.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom Brady</a> came back from retirement, Russell Wilson left the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/super-bowl-champions-list-of-all-time-winners-215-20220503-SPD-215.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seahawks</a>, and the Falcons parted ways with longtime quarterback Matt Ryan.



The veteran signal-caller was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, which will be his second team in his career after 14 years in <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/how-many-nfl-teams-have-not-won-a-super-bowl-ring-in-their-history-97-20220502-SPD-97.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Atlanta</a>. The decision took many by surprise, given that the front office seemed to support Ryan as QB1.



But things changed when the Falcons joined the race for Deshaun Watson. Even though he ended up at the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta’s interest in another quarterback has influenced Ryan’s decision to leave. 



<h2>If Falcons hadn’t pursued Deshaun Watson, Matt Ryan might have stayed</h2>



“Had none of this gone down? There’s probably a chance — a pretty good chance,” Ryan said in The Ryen Rusillo podcast when asked if he would still be in Atlanta had they not chased Watson. “But it did, you know? So when it does, when the situations change and the circumstances change… You know, I had always thought, like everybody, when you’re drafted there, and you play there, this is where I’m going to play my entire career. 



“For 14 years, every day I woke up, it was to try and help the Falcons win a championship. And that had been reciprocated on the other end for me. And so when that changed, I had to look into it. It’s certainly been a big change, for sure. But a good one. And so, it’s hard to say. But I think honestly, it’s more than likely I probably would’ve still been there had circumstances been different. But I’m excited with where I’m at.”



Ryan’s reaction makes a lot of sense, he realized his job security was lower than it seemed and decided to find a new team before it was too late. Now it’s time to move on, as the Colts will demand the best from him.

Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Trade for Van Jefferson with Rams in Late-Round Swap of Picks

NLF: Top 3 teams that need new uniforms for the upcoming season

NFL News: Eddie Goldman retires at 28 two weeks after joining Falcons

NFL News: Falcons QB Marcus Mariota full of praise for Arthur Smith's methods

NFL News: Raiders trade wide receiver Bryan Edwards to Falcons

NFL Rumors: Falcons' interest in Deshaun Watson drove Matt Ryan away from Atlanta

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