Atlanta acquired Bryan Edwards and a 2023 seventh-round pick…
Atlanta acquired Bryan Edwards and a 2023 seventh-round pick from Las Vegas for a 2023 fifth-rounder. Edwards did not solve the Falcons' receiving need and was released during the season, but the extra seventh eventually became safety DeMarcco Hellams, who supplied useful defensive value. The Raiders gained the better original pick but later moved it, leaving Atlanta with the most tangible contributor directly connected to the exchange.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Bryan Edwards
- pick 2023 7th round pick (224th overall, DeMarcco Hellams)
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 2023 5th round pick (144th overall subsequently traded, Atonio Mafi )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Atlanta sent a 2023 fifth-round pick to Las Vegas for wide receiver Bryan Edwards and a 2023 seventh-rounder. The Falcons were searching for size and upside at receiver, while the Raiders were moving on from a former third-round selection who had not secured a lasting role. Edwards' Atlanta stay was short, but the accompanying seventh-round pick eventually became safety DeMarcco Hellams at No. 224.
Why Atlanta Still Has an Edge
The Edwards portion of the trade was a miss. He did not establish himself in the offense and was released before completing the season. Hellams changed the long-term evaluation. As a seventh-round safety, he provided defensive snaps and showed enough to become a meaningful young piece when healthy. That secondary payoff matters because Atlanta received the pick along with Edwards rather than as a separate later transaction.
How Las Vegas Fared
The Raiders did well to recover a fifth-round selection for a receiver they no longer viewed as central to their plans. In immediate draft-value terms, moving from a seventh to a fifth was favorable. The pick was subsequently moved, however, so Las Vegas cannot simply claim the career of the player eventually selected at that slot by another club. The direct, durable value tied to the Raiders' side is therefore limited.
Final Verdict
Atlanta earns a B- and Las Vegas a C. The Falcons' receiver bet failed, preventing a stronger grade, but the seventh-round component produced a useful defender in Hellams. Las Vegas made a sensible sale and obtained better draft position, yet the direct return did not create enough lasting football value to overcome Atlanta's eventual secondary payoff. The Falcons win narrowly rather than decisively.