The Atlanta Falcons are looking to rebuild their defense from the ground up. They started last season by using their first round pick on Vic Beasley, a defensive end out of Clemson. In 2016 they could look to free agency to play a much bigger factor in adding defensive players.
The Falcons will be in a tough position during the 2016 NFL Draft as they currently are picking 17th overall and need a pass rusher, safety, inside linebacker and a defensive end. The Falcons are one of the few teams whose entire needs are based solely on the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons couldn't really take a safety at 17 because the best one available, Jalen Ramsay, will likely be taken much earlier on.
Along the defensive line is where the Falcons need the most work, but they also need a quality inside linebacker, and that is where Danny Trevathan comes into play. Trevathan is a speedy cover linebacker who recorded 109 combined tackles, 6 pass defenses, 2 interceptions and a defensive touchdown during the 2015 season.
The Falcons' defensive coordinator Richard Smith is also Trevathan's old position coach. The Falcons would likely bring in Trevathan to replace inside linebacker Paul Worrilow and Justin Durant, who are hitting free agency. Trevathan could also be lined up on the outside, but the Falcons may pursue Bruce Irvin for that role. Let's not forget head coach Dan Quinn is a former Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator, so brining in Irvin would make a ton of sense. At only 25 years old Trevathan is looking to reap the benefits of one of his best seasons as a pro. He may get the opportunity for a big-money contract considering the Chicago Bears have also shown interest in the productive linebacker. He could not only help with the depth he would bring to Chicago's linebacking corps, but he would also be a productive cover linebacker.
The Bears would be able to be a lot more dynamic on defense with the addition of Trevathan, so if the middle linebacker hits the market the Bears could be looking to spend big.
