The Falcons acquired OT Michael Jerrell on Tuesday
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Just hours before final roster cuts, the Falcons announced a significant trade with the Seattle Seahawks to bring in OT Michael Jerrell.
Just hours before final roster cuts, the Falcons have announced a significant trade to address their biggest need. While I have written extensively about Atlanta’s options at offensive tackle recently, they finally made a move on an external target.
Falcons Send Conditional 7th Round Pick to Seahawks for 2nd-Year Tackle
Just hours before the 53-man roster deadline, Atlanta traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for second-year OT Michael Jerrell. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero broke the news of the trade via social media this morning.
The Falcons are about as desperate as it gets in terms of offensive line talent. But, this appears to be a low-risk move for a young player that needed a change of scenery.
He hasn’t broken out in the way that the Seahawks had hoped, but there are still some tools there that could be beneficial for the Falcons.
Back before the 2024 NFL Draft, NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein wrote that Jerrell was a project, “but his traits and athleticism might be worth a developmental plan.”
As part of The Athletic‘s live draft coverage in 2024, NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler highlighted Jerrell’s unique journey to the pros.
Jerrell started just one season as an offensive lineman in high school before landing at Division II University of Findlay. But, he made the most of his opportunity to play college football.
The newest Falcons lineman earned a host of awards while at Findlay, including three first-team All-Conference nods, two honorable mention All-American selections and 2023 Offensive Lineman of the Year for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
After the Seahawks signed Jerrell last May, Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider called him “a monster of a dude” who “dominated at a level he’s supposed to dominate in at Findlay.”
Jerrell struggled about as much as any offensive tackle in the league last year, but the Falcons believe that he can provide at least a temporary replacement at right tackle. According to Spotrac, his 2025 cap hit is just $1,000,015, so there’s very little downside to seeing what he can do.
Atlanta Running Out of Options at Offensive Tackle
There are few positions as important as offensive line in the NFL. That’s especially true for a team like the Falcons, who are relying on second-year QB Michael Penix Jr. and breakout star RB Bijan Robinson to lead their offense.
When it comes to Penix’s blindside protection, the Falcons don’t have as many options as they’d hoped for at the beginning of camp. Last week, RT Kaleb McGary sustained a leg injury that will cost him “significant time,” according to head coach Raheem Morris. To make matters worse, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that backup OT Storm Norton underwent ankle surgery, which is expected to cost him six to eight weeks.
Following those injuries, the Falcons hadn’t shown any signs of activity on the free agent market. But, they looked into several options involving players already on their roster.
Elijah Wilkinson filled in for McGary at right tackle during last Wednesday’s practice. But, the Falcons reportedly held him out of their preseason finale “out of an abundance of caution.”
As a result, rookie seventh-round pick OT Jack Nelson and eight-year veteran OT Brandon Parker filled in for a majority of the snaps against the Dallas Cowboys.
Now, the Falcons have another offensive tackle to provide depth to start the season. I’d imagine that Jerrell will need to go above and beyond to earn playing time during the regular season, but he should at least give them another option at a key position.