The mud is settling round free company, with the Atlanta Falcons each unlikely to be achieved with signings and unlikely to make any main splashes earlier than the 2025 NFL Draft.
That makes this a high quality time to take a look at the roster and see who’s in principally the identical spot they had been earlier than free company, who figures to have an expanded position or a minimum of a really protected one, and who would possibly see their position shrink or step right into a strain cooker state of affairs. Right here’s a take a look at each projected starter on the Falcons and the place they slot in that arrow-based matrix with free company quiet and the draft but to start.
Arrow Up
WR Drake London
Whereas he was a significant a part of the passing recreation all season, he posted a profession excessive in targets within the last week of the season with Penix throwing him the ball, exploding for 10 catches on 18 targets with 187 yards and two touchdowns. London had 22 of his 100 grabs on the season within the last three weeks of the season, and whereas Darnell Mooney’s absence on the finish of the season turbocharged these tendencies, it’s apparent that the massive, sure-handed goal who works so nicely on the sidelines goes to be Penix’s favourite man to throw to.
Which means London’s profession 12 months in 2024 is probably going simply the ground of his 2025 manufacturing, assuming good well being for all concerned, and it’s why his arrow is pointing up.
WR Darnell Mooney
If London goes to be Penix’s favourite, Mooney goes to be the beneficiary of Penix’s capability to the touch any a part of the sphere. The speedster managed to thrive even with a restricted Kirk Cousins tossing him the ball in 2024, so it’s unimaginable to not daydream about him strolling into the top zone on some 40-to-50 yard bombs from Penix.
LT Jake Matthews
He received paid, he’s not the blind facet protector, and he’s getting older gracefully because the crew’s ever-reliable left sort out and iron man. Because the final participant left from the crew’s 2016 Tremendous Bowl crew and a possible future Ring of Honor inductee, Matthews is driving excessive in the meanwhile, and hopefully will proceed to be a high quality starter this coming season.
C Ryan Neuzil
At this level, the Falcons are both going so as to add an early spherical rookie as an unquestioned starter, or Neuzil goes to face competitors for the job. Given their restricted draft capital, it seems Neuzil goes to line up for an actual shot at beginning beneath middle in 2025, which is best than he may have hoped for heading into this offseason.
Will probably be incumbent on him to show he can deal with that job and deal with it nicely, naturally, however the truth that he has a shot in any respect bodes nicely for his possibilities of doing so.
TE Kyle Pitts
No commerce has materialized and the crew has not added any real competitors for Pitts, with Nikola Kalinic and Feleipe Franks set to compete for third tight finish duties. With Penix beneath middle and a few modest indicators of a rapport late within the season, Pitts seems to be locked in as the highest go catching possibility at tight finish, and remains to be younger sufficient and gifted sufficient to tug his profession again from the brink of mediocrity.
Arrow Sideways
QB Michael Penix
The arrow is pointing up within the sense that I anticipate good issues from Penix in his sophomore season, however the Falcons haven’t made any strikes that transfer the needle for the younger quarterback. Actually, the offense appears to be like barely worse after the primary large spherical of free company.
Why? They misplaced Drew Dalman, mainly, which leaves Ryan Neuzil so long as a crew doesn’t make a proposal the Falcons can’t match. That leaves a gap at middle that may should be patched through the draft or a free agent signing down the road, as Neuzil because the uncontested starter isn’t one thing I can fathom the crew permitting.
In any other case, although, the road is fairly set, the weapons are right here, and Penix himself is a promising quarterback with the expertise to be particular. If the Falcons resolve for middle and doubtlessly add yet another high quality weapon to the passing recreation, this arrow will likely be pointing up post-draft.
LG Matthew Bergeron
Bergeron was significantly better final 12 months however nonetheless nicely wanting an elite participant, so he nonetheless has a lot to show in 2025. He’s at minimal a helpful starter at left guard who’s not engaged on the blind facet, however proper now nothing signifies we must always anticipate any pullback or a significant leap from him.
TE Charlie Woerner
Completely nothing about Woerner’s position goes to alter. He’s going to be a significant piece of the puzzle for the run recreation and can very sometimes be requested to make a seize, and can stay a beneficial contributor on offense in consequence.
Arrow Down
RB Bijan Robinson
Within the eight weeks-and-most-of-another-game that Bijan operated with out Drew Dalman beneath middle, he hit 90 yards thrice. Within the eight video games he performed with Dalman beneath middle, he hit 90 yards seven occasions. Matchups performed a task, after all, however is it a coincidence that the lack of arguably the very best run-blocking middle within the NFL damage Bijan’s manufacturing? No.
Robinson ought to nonetheless produce as one of many league’s most gifted backs, particularly with Tyler Allgeier taking an increasing number of of a backseat to him as Robinson’s go catching and go safety abilities enhance. However nice blocking is essential to him exceeding final 12 months’s wonderful manufacturing, and the uncertainty at middle means in the meanwhile it’s tough to foretell that he’ll exceed that manufacturing.
WR Ray-Ray McCloud
Final 12 months, McCloud loved a profession 12 months, and to this point the Falcons haven’t made any strikes that threaten his place on the depth chart. The truth that he proved to be such a dependable possibility over the center of the sphere means he’ll retain a task.
That mentioned, McCloud set profession highs by 23 receptions and over 400 yards, and did so primarily with Kirk Cousins beneath middle, with all the center of the sphere, quick yardage merchantry that means. Michael Penix is much less more likely to lean on that ability set together with his cannon arm and Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Kyle Pitts all able to serving as succesful downfield targets. There’s additionally the chance that this crew, which is internet hosting Texas speedster Isaiah Bond on a Prime 30 go to, nonetheless plans so as to add competitors for McCloud through the draft.
In case you add it up, there’s inevitable pullback to come back for McCloud on this offense. The excellent news is that he’s nonetheless more likely to be a helpful participant with a sizeable position, regardless.
RT Kaleb McGary
If McGary thrives because the crew’s proper sort out this season whereas defending Penix’s blind facet, he may set himself up for a hefty new deal. However heading right into a contract 12 months at age 30 and needing to be as sharp as he’s ever been in go safety together with his new duties signifies that McGary has numerous strain on him to be the very best model of himself, which isn’t an end result we are able to take as a right on condition that our final 2024 impression was McGary permitting 4 hurries and two quarterback hits towards a decimated Carolina entrance.
We’re rooting for him to reply any doubts definitively, however the circumstances counsel till we see him do it, McGary’s arrow needs to be pointing down on condition that he’ll need to be terrific in 2025 to keep away from being changed in 2026.
