Atlanta traded up eight spots in the 2024 second round for…
Atlanta traded up eight spots in the 2024 second round for defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro and also received a sixth-round pick used on Jase McClellan. Arizona moved down to No. 43 for cornerback Max Melton and added No. 79, which was later moved. Orhorhoro and Melton have both become useful defenders, leaving the exchange balanced two seasons later.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 2024 2nd round pick (43rd overall, Max Melton)
- pick 2024 3rd round pick (79th overall subsequently traded, Matt Goncalves )
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2024 2nd round pick (35th overall, Ruke Orhorhoro)
- pick 2024 6th round pick (186th overall, Jase McClellan )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Atlanta received No. 35, used on Ruke Orhorhoro, plus No. 186, used on Jase McClellan. Arizona received No. 43, used on Max Melton, and No. 79, which was later moved. The price and the draft position matter because this was not a transaction involving equivalent established veterans. Each club was choosing between immediate roster value, a targeted prospect, or additional chances in later rounds. That context keeps the grading tied to what the assets actually became rather than to the number of items listed in the original package.
How the Value Developed
Atlanta's aggressive move produced a real rotation piece. Orhorhoro developed from a limited rookie role into 17 games, eight starts, 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2025. Arizona's choice at No. 43 also produced a usable corner: Max Melton appeared in all 17 games as a rookie and accumulated regular defensive work across his first two seasons. The Cardinals also captured the extra third-round value. The important hindsight question is whether that development justified the opportunity cost paid at the time. Early draft value can be useful, but actual snaps, starts and production carry more weight once enough NFL evidence exists to compare the two sides.
Why the Result Stays Close
The trade therefore looks healthier for both clubs than it did on draft night. Atlanta paid a meaningful premium to choose its preferred interior defender, but Orhorhoro's 2025 growth gives that decision substance. Arizona surrendered the earlier choice but still found a young corner and expanded its draft flexibility. The added third-round capital offsets Atlanta's sixth-round return. Matching B- grades recognize successful roster building without pretending either side has produced star-level surplus value. This is still a relatively young transaction, so the grades leave room for later movement rather than treating two seasons as a permanent career judgment. The present result is based on the value already delivered and the remaining capital that each team retained.
Final Verdict
Both sides earn B--range credit here because the realized value remains balanced. No team has created enough separation to justify forcing a directional winner, so the long-term verdict remains Even Trade.