Atlanta traded picks 45 and 79 to the Rams for No. 31 and No.…
Atlanta traded picks 45 and 79 to the Rams for No. 31 and No. 203, using the first-rounder on tackle Kaleb McGary. McGary developed into a long-term Falcons starter and eventually earned a second contract, giving Atlanta stability at right tackle. Los Angeles used No. 79 on David Long and moved No. 45 in another trade, gaining flexibility and secondary depth but no player with McGary's sustained Atlanta role.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2019 1st round pick (31st overall, Kaleb McGary)
- pick 2019 6th round pick (203rd overall, Marcus Green)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 2019 2nd round pick (45th overall subsequently traded, Joejuan Williams)
- pick 2019 3rd round pick (79th overall, David Long )
Trade Analysis
Atlanta entered the 2019 draft determined to rebuild its offensive line and had already selected guard Chris Lindstrom at No. 14 when it traded back into the first round. The Falcons sent the 45th and 79th picks to the Rams for No. 31 and No. 203. Atlanta used No. 31 on Washington tackle Kaleb McGary and the sixth-rounder on Marcus Green, making McGary the clear centerpiece of the move.
McGary's development was not immediate. He started from the beginning but had uneven early seasons, particularly in pass protection, and Atlanta initially declined his fifth-year option. His play improved enough that the Falcons later signed him to a new multi-year contract, and he became a fixture at right tackle. The fact that he survived coaching changes and roster turnover to remain a long-term starter gives the move meaningful value even if he never became an elite left-tackle-level asset.
Los Angeles approached the draft from the opposite direction. The Rams preferred more Day 2 flexibility and moved out of No. 31. They later sent No. 45 to New England in another trade and used No. 79 on cornerback David Long. Long spent four seasons with the Rams, mostly in rotational and sub-package work, and contributed to the 2021 team that won Super Bowl LVI. The trade-down therefore fit a roster already built to contend, but the direct player return was modest.
Atlanta earns a B+ because the Falcons secured a starting tackle who became durable enough to receive a second contract. The Rams receive a C+ for generating flexibility and getting useful depth from Long without landing a comparable long-term starter. McGary's sustained role gives Atlanta the edge, though the Rams' broader trade-down strategy was defensible.