Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant has seen limited playing time in his fourth season, with just 19 defensive snaps across seven games. This shift follows the team’s acquisition of All-Pro safety Justin Simmons in August. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi suggested this week that Grant is a prime candidate for a trade before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 5.

“Coach Raheem Morris has expressed interest in getting Grant, a 2021 second-round pick, on the field alongside Bates and Simmons, though that has been rare,” Raimondi noted. “While the Falcons likely won’t trade Grant due to his depth value, if they were inclined, he could be a potential starter elsewhere.”

ESPN analysts recently identified one potential trade candidate from each NFL team, with Grant emerging as a logical choice for the Falcons. Despite playoff-hopeful teams usually holding onto players rather than trading them, moving Grant could benefit Atlanta, especially since he’s in the final year of his rookie contract and set to become a free agent in March.

Trading Grant could provide the Falcons with an extra 2025 draft pick, a valuable asset given they currently hold only three selections for that draft. Alternatively, general manager Terry Fontenot could include Grant in a package deal for an edge rusher, potentially reducing the need to part with more future draft capital.

Grant, who has contributed just 4 tackles and 1 pass defense this season, has mostly played on special teams with 151 snaps. However, his track record as a two-year starter, including 123 tackles and 7 pass defenses in 2022, could make him an appealing asset for a contender looking to bolster both their secondary and special teams.