The Atlanta Falcons aren’t achieved in free company, and the NFL Draft remains to be forward. The truth that there’s a lull after the preliminary flurry of signings nonetheless makes this a high quality time to verify in on the roster.
The place are the Falcons right this moment? Briefly, the offense is in fairly good condition with one main query mark, whereas the protection is usually simply query marks. Relying on how a lot you want a Younghoe Koo bounceback and belief this workforce to discover a succesful punt returner, particular groups is likely to be heavy on the ???s, as effectively.
Right here’s the place the roster stands right this moment, and what the Falcons have to subsequent.
Offense
QB Michael Penix Jr.
QB Kirk Cousins
QB Emory Jones Jr.
RB Bijan Robinson
RB Tyler Allgeier
RB Jase McClellan
RB Carlos Washington
RB Elijah Dotson
WR Drake London
WR Darnell Mooney
WR Ray-Ray McCloud
WR KhaDarel Hodge
WR Casey Washington
WR Makai Polk
WR Chris Blair
WR David Sills
WR Dylan Drummond
WR Phillip Dorsett
TE Kyle Pitts
TE Charlie Woerner
TE Nikola Kalinic
T Jake Matthews
T Kaleb McGary
T Storm Norton
T Brandon Parker
T Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
T Kilian Zierer
T Joey Fisher
G Matthew Bergeron
G Chris Lindstrom
G Kyle Hinton
G Elijah Wilkinson
G/T Matthew Cindric
C Ryan Neuzil (proper of first refusal tender)
C/G Jovaughn Gwyn
That is an offense in want of a transparent reply at heart and higher depth across the edges, particularly at tight finish. You can additionally argue for an improve at third receiver, the place proper now McCloud is locked in to the position minus a significant leap or emergence from the likes of Blair, Washington, or Polk.
However this aspect of the ball is the one in higher form. You’ve gotten your younger, very promising quarterback, one of many league’s greatest backs and greatest backup backs, two excellent prime receivers, and a still-promising if deeply irritating tight finish and his elite blocking counterpart. The road is in good condition with depth—Norton, Hinton, and Wilkinson are all high quality reserves, and the workforce has numerous younger tackles to attempt to develop—and thus the elements for a reasonably good to excellent offense are right here.
The Falcons most likely can’t go into the season with Neuzil because the clear-cut starter with zero competitors, so count on a middle signing before later.
Protection
DL David Onyemata
DL Morgan Fox
DL Ruke Orhorhoro
DL Zach Harrison
DL Brandon Dorlus
DL Ta’Quon Graham
DL LaCale London
DL Junior Aho
EDGE Leonard Floyd
EDGE Arnold Ebiketie
EDGE Bralen Trice
EDGE DeAngelo Malone
EDGE Khalid Kareem
ILB Kaden Elliss
ILB Troy Andersen
ILB Divine Deablo
ILB JD Bertrand
ILB Josh Woods
CB AJ Terrell
CB Mike Hughes
CB Clark Phillips
CB Natrone Brooks
CB Keith Taylor
CB Lamar Jackson
S Jessie Bates
S DeMarcco Hellams
S Benny Sapp III
If you lay it out like this, issues nonetheless appear fairly grim.
This line is healthier with Fox as a sturdy, dependable choice who can add some juice when it comes to the cross rush, however the Falcons will probably be closely reliant on steps ahead from Orhorhoro, Harrison, and Dorlus as issues are constructed. Onyemata remains to be a helpful participant however must play fewer snaps, whereas London and Graham not less than give the Falcons confirmed, succesful depth. The workforce wants a game-wrecking addition right here barring some breakouts.
The story is analogous at EDGE, the place Floyd presents a excessive ground and Ebiketie nonetheless presents a excessive ceiling. Kareem and Malone are helpful particular teamers who might help in a pinch—Kareem was good in restricted snaps, Malone can often provide some juice as a cross rusher—whereas Trice is an unknown with upside.
Inside linebacker, the place Elliss is among the workforce’s most dependable defenders, Andersen nonetheless presents upside when wholesome, and Deablo is an intriguing, athletic addition, looms as one of many extra fascinating place teams this summer time. Bertrand will get slightly run however is primarily right here for his particular groups worth.
Cornerback is in a dicey spot. The Falcons haven’t trusted Phillips to play the nickel and Taylor hasn’t been nice when he’s achieved so, which leaves Brooks as their greatest in-house choice. The Falcons want an improve there until they’re kicking Hughes again inside, which didn’t go effectively the final time, and will use extra confirmed depth even when I do like Brooks and Phillips loads.
Security is probably the thinnest spot on the roster. Hellams is a participant I like however can also be coming off a misplaced season due to damage, and Sapp is an unproven choice. The Falcons should add right here and appear seemingly to take action within the draft.
It’s troublesome to look as this aspect of the ball with out a wave of tension washing over you, as a result of the Falcons are both skinny, reliant on unproven gamers stepping up, or each nearly in every single place. The remainder of the offseason must be spent addressing the protection.
Particular groups
Okay Younghoe Koo
P Bradley Pinion
LS Liam McCullough
The specialists are set…for now. McCullough simply signed a brand new multi-year deal and is a really stable lengthy snapper, however Koo is coming off a disastrous yr ended prematurely by damage, whereas Pinion noticed a pullback in his numbers in 2024. The Falcons aren’t going to go spend huge cash or actual draft capital to tug in competitors for both Koo or Pinion, however don’t be shocked in the event that they add somebody this summer time to push Koo particularly.
What’s subsequent?
Middle must be addressed with a veteran signing. It may be a stopgap kind starter or a confirmed veteran like David Andrews, however both approach the objective ought to be to have an improve to Ryan Neuzil or a stable fallback if he’s injured or doesn’t seize the job outright. The workforce ought to nibble on the edges of their inside depth, broad receiver, and tight finish, and should have to chase a veteran backup in the event that they deal Kirk Cousins.
On protection, the Falcons ought to prioritize including at each degree of the protection. You’ll be able to push again on me slightly bit right here and argue that inside linebacker is fairly set, nevertheless it solely takes one damage there to push that place group again into scary territory, particularly if that damage occurs to Elliss. The workforce wants extra run-stopping acumen and expertise up entrance, extra high-end capability at EDGE, and extra of the whole lot within the secondary to even dream of having fun with greater than a whisper of enchancment in 2025. It appears to be like just like the protection will proceed to be the main target of each free company and the draft, and that’s a should.
Lastly, search for the Falcons to host a fierce competitors for punt and kick returner and search so as to add a participant who can push Koo this summer time and function an in-season name to make if Koo isn’t proper. There’s no scarcity of wants for this workforce, which desires to achieve success in 2025 however has miles to go to get there.
