How close the final result was cannot be determined by what we saw on the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon. The Atlanta Falcons looked like a serious contender in the NFC, while the Dallas Cowboys looked like a completely disorganized team. Injuries have completely destroyed this team, but questionable coaching and worsening ownership have rendered America's team useless.

While Atlanta was finally able to generate some pass rush on Sunday, it would help the Falcons to at least try to bring in another Matthew Judon-type player to complement former New England star and homegrown defensive tackle standout Grady Jarrett. The Cowboys actually have one such player, and that would be long-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence, who is still on injured reserve.

Figuring out the right compensation for Lawrence is quite difficult, but here's what it might take.

Trading an injured player is probably not what Atlanta wants to do, especially when former Georgia star and Marietta native Azeez Ojulari is healthier, cheaper and more readily available than Lawrence. It's quite difficult to figure out what fair compensation is due to a star player who gets injured in the final year of his contract. His base salary is $10 million, so let's cut it in half and trim it down a bit here.

A fourth- or fifth-round pick would likely be in the $2.5 million to $3.75 million range to get a deal done.

Atlanta has been linked to Ojulari in particular, but it wouldn't be shocking if the Dirty Birds actually pursue a high-end edge rusher who plays for a struggling team like Lawrence, Emmanuel Ogbah or Za'Darius Smith. Admittedly, I don't have the sharpest mind when it comes to Xs and Os or schema fit. All I know is that Atlanta will lose a game in the postseason because they simply can't catch the passer.

The Falcons are on the verge of running away with the division. Since the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are both 2-7 this year, Atlanta is already in a tiebreaker over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the regular season win. New Orleans just fired its head coach. 4-4 Tampa Bay still has to play Kansas City on Monday night. Carolina is still one of the worst teams in the NFL.

If Atlanta improves to 7-3 with a road win over New Orleans on Sunday, the Falcons would be 5-0 in NFC South play and 7-1 against conference opponents. Not adding a pass rusher at this point would be doing a borderline playoff lock a disservice at this point. As for the Cowboys, Dallas needs to sell its high-priced assets, get a new head coach and try its best in the 2025 NFL offseason.

Trading Lawrence is a little risky, but the upside for Atlanta could lead to a big save.