Falcons’ Matthew Bergeron, Arnold Ebiketie make PFF’s 2024 All-Breakout Team

The Atlanta Falcons haven’t drafted an offensive or defensive lineman in the first round since 2019. But Pro Football Focus still expects one player on each unit for the Falcons to have a breakout campaign in 2024.

PFF’s Gordon McGuinness picked one player to have a breakout season at each position in the upcoming season. At left guard, he selected the Falcons’ 2023 second-round pick Matthew Bergeron.

“Syracuse’s 2023 second-round pick took his lumps as a rookie, but had enough flashes that there is optimism he can become a plus starter for the Falcons in 2024 ” wrote McGuinness. “Bergeron played four games last season without allowing any pressure in pass protection.”

Additionally, at edge rusher, McGuinness picked Falcons 2022 second-rounder Arnold Ebiketie.

“Ebiketie performed well enough as a passer in Year 2 for onlookers to believe he can take another step forward in 2024. His pressure rate increased from 9.2% as a rookie at 16.0% last year.”

The Falcons already have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. PFF ranked Atlanta right guard Chris Lindstrom as the best guard in the NFL. The analytics website also ranked Falcons offensive tackles Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary among the top 30 tackles in the league.

Finally, PFF also gave center Drew Dalman some love this offseason, calling him the Falcons’ most underrated player.

Bergeron emerging with a breakout season could propel the Falcons offensive line to the top of any unit rankings.

But on the other side of the ball, the Falcons could desperately benefit from a breakout Ebiketie campaign. Atlanta did not re-sign Calais Campbell or Bud Dupree. This leaves Ebiketie the only returning Falcons defender to have more than 4 sacks last season.

The Falcons also opted to draft quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round instead of one of the top rushers in the class.

Ebiketie was very efficient, recording 6 sacks and 12 quarterback hits while only playing 384 defensive snaps last season. He likely benefited from fewer snaps and played alongside Dupree and Campbell.

But Ebiketie won’t have any of those luxuries in 2024. The Falcons will rely on him to be the team’s best runner with rookies such as Bralen Trice and Brandon Dorlus in supporting roles.