Atlanta traded up from No. 30 to No. 22 in 2013 for…
Atlanta traded up from No. 30 to No. 22 in 2013 for cornerback Desmond Trufant, sending the Rams third- and sixth-round picks and receiving a future seventh. Trufant became a seven-year Falcons starter and Pro Bowler. St. Louis selected Alec Ogletree at No. 30 and Stedman Bailey at No. 92, producing a strong linebacker and additional depth. Both clubs found starters, with Trufant's peak giving Atlanta a narrow edge.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2013 1st round pick (22nd overall, Desmond Trufant )
- pick 2015 7th round pick (249th overall, Akeem King)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 2013 1st round pick (30th overall, Alec Ogletree)
- pick 2013 3rd round pick (92nd overall, Stedman Bailey)
- pick 2013 6th round pick (198th overall subsequently traded, Chris Jones )
Trade Analysis
Atlanta entered the 2013 draft looking for a starting cornerback after moving on from several veterans in the secondary. The Falcons sent the 30th, 92nd and 198th selections to St. Louis for No. 22 and a future seventh-round pick, then selected Washington corner Desmond Trufant. The Rams used the move down to add Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree and West Virginia receiver Stedman Bailey while gaining another late-round asset.
Trufant became an immediate starter and one of Atlanta's most reliable defenders. He started 97 regular-season games across seven Falcons seasons, earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and was a major part of the roster that reached Super Bowl LI, although a pectoral injury ended his 2016 season early. At his peak, Trufant gave Atlanta quality man coverage at one of the league's most valuable defensive positions. That is a strong return for an eight-slot move up.
The Rams also converted the trade into real football value. Ogletree started from his rookie season, became a defensive captain and recorded hundreds of tackles over five years in St. Louis and Los Angeles. He was eventually traded to the Giants in 2018, returning additional draft capital. Bailey flashed as a receiver and returner before a 2015 shooting ended his playing career, an unforeseeable circumstance that cut short a promising role. The sixth-round branch was later moved.
Because both teams obtained a multi-year defensive starter, this should not carry a large grade gap. Atlanta earns an A- for landing a Pro Bowl corner who became a long-term starter. The Rams receive a B+ for Ogletree's five productive seasons, Bailey's brief contribution and the additional capital created by moving down. Trufant's peak and positional value give the Falcons a slight win, but the trade was successful for both organizations.