Troy Andersen Could Be Trade Candidate as Falcons Enter New Era

The Atlanta Falcons have some decisions to make this offseason about who the new regime will commit to. The team will have to look position by position and decide if even past top draft picks are worth investing in to help them get back to the postseason for the first time in almost a decade. 

If they do decide to move on from former top picks, linebacker Troy Andersen might be a strong candidate. The Falcons drafted the former Montana State defenseman in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and, unfortunately, have struggled to make an impact on the field. 

Mostly due to injuries that have riddled Andersen's career in the pros so far, he has found playing time in just nine games since his rookie year in the league.

When he is available, and health isn't an issue, Anderson has shown he has the potential to be a top linebacker in this league. In week 4 of the 2024 season, he was named NFC defensive player of the week after recording 16 tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints, but the consistency is just not there. 

So what will Atlanta do?

Jeff Ulbrich, entering his second season as the Falcons' defensive coordinator, has a lot on the line in 2026 to ensure the Atlanta defense is one of the top in the NFL, as he may be up for head coaching jobs next offseason. As there are already concerns about the team's pass rush due to the uncertainty around James Pearce Jr.'s playing status, they may not want to take any more chances. 

Earlier this month, head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about a group of players, including Andersen, and how they were doing with their recovery, and he seemed quite optimistic. "Everybody's doing really well. They're all in different stages of what they can do and when. You'll see some guys, uh, when we go to individual go off to the side and do some individual work, but um everybody's on a good timeline. Very pleased with how they're working."

If traded, Andersen could be a great candidate for a mid-round pick in the 2027 draft, which is set to be "loaded" according to many college prospect experts, or for a move with another team to give each player a "change of scenery."

He recently restructured his contract with the Falcons, so the trade could be an interesting one for a team that needs more linebacker depth and allows Matt Ryan and the new Atlanta Front Office to help give Andersen a second chance to start over.