For a moment there it looked like the Jessie Bates III trade would be the only move that the Atlanta Falcons planned to make at the NFL trade deadline. However, just before the 4:00 deadline passed the Falcons pulled off a last-second deal with the Baltimore Ravens, first reported by Jonathan Jones at The Athletic.
The surprise trade sent starting center Ryan Neuzil to Baltimore in exchange for backup guard Andrew Vorhees and a conditional 2028 sixth-round draft pick.For what it's worth, ESPN did not like the deal for the Falcons, giving them a C- grade for the move.
It seems they're not alone in that opinion. Moe Moton at Bleacher Report gave Atlanta a C for the trade.
"In this deal, Baltimore gets a more experienced interior offensive lineman
who has 38 career starts at center. Ryan Neuzil has started in every game over the last two seasons. He'll provide depth behind two-time Pro Bowler Cam Jurgens. Vorhees could see some time on the field if the run-heavy Falcons deal with injuries at guard, though they also get a future late-round pick out of this deal."
It's not hard to see why the Ravens made the trade - they have been hammered at center by injuries this season and still have a hope of making the playoffs if Lamar Jackson can return in time.
For the Falcons, it makes a lot less sense, though. Neuzil's absence leaves just one center on the active roster in Corey Levin, who has appeared in 97 games since he was drafted in 2017 but has only started in seven of them.
Meanwhile, Vorhees is just a depth piece at guard, where the Falcons are already about as well set up as any team in the league.
Matt Ryan and Ian Cunningham must have had their reasons, but from where we're sitting this one is a head-scratcher.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons earn another poor grade for perplexing deadline deal
