Five Looming Questions for the Atlanta Falcons Offseason: Have They Been Answered?

The 2024 offseason has a chance to be transformational for the Atlanta Falcons. With the departure of Arthur Smith, the Raheem Morris era of the Falcons begins and it is off to an explosive start.

With the roster overhaul, building this team in the image of the three-headed monster of Morris, defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Atlanta emerges from the first wave of the offseason as the betting favorite to win the NFC South, according to DraftKings Sportsbooks.

Before the offseason began, the Falcons had five looming questions they needed to answer for this to be called a success. We examine whether these five looming questions have been answered or not.

1) Have you upgraded at Quarterback?

Answer: Yes, maybe too much…?

By the end of 2023, 30 quarterbacks had more than 320 quarterback plays, according to rbsdm.com. Desmond Ridder finished the year 24th in the league in EPA/adjusted play. Quarterbacks worse than him?

• Washington’s Sam Howell
• Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett
• Josh Dobbs of Minnesota
• New England’s Mac Jones
• Bryce Young of Carolina and
• Zach Wilson of New York

The only player on this list still on their 2023 team is Young, and that’s because the Panthers invested a first overall pick on him. The Falcons had to improve at quarterback…even if they did it in a questionable manner.

Atlanta did everything in its power to secure Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins, including giving him a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, but the Falcons have none finished.

With Cousins ​​recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury and backup Taylor Heinicke not giving much confidence in his abilities in his game last year, Atlanta selected the quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. with the eighth overall selection in this year’s draft.

Was it exaggerated? Could be. But if it goes the way the Falcons think, Atlanta will be the quarterback for at least half a decade or a decade.

2) Have you solved the pass rush problem?

Answer: Unconventional, but yes.

Over the past decade, the Falcons’ pass rush has been virtually non-existent. How much? Since 2014, only 41 teams have had fewer than 30 sacks in an NFL season. The Atlanta Falcons own six of these teams. The next team on the list is Oakland/Las Vegas, with three seasons.

The Falcons needed help, even though they broke the 40-sack mark for the first time since 2004 last season. So, did they do it? The answer is yes, but in an unconventional way, it’s the word of the year for the Falcons’ approach to team building.

With the Falcons selecting Penix at eight, they lost the opportunity to add a potential premium pass-rusher in the draft, and they didn’t add a pass-rusher at all in free agency. And after losing about 13 of those sacks in losses to Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, there had to be some sort of answer.

Their response was to add more to the defensive line rotation with not one, not two, but three draft picks spent on the interior of the defensive line. The player with the most advantages? The long and athletic Ruke Orhorhoro. The player with the most potential to make an immediate impact? The versatile and powerful Brandon Dorlus. Then there’s the huge mountain of a man in Zion Logue, who could find a role as a nose tackle.

The Falcons also added one of the potential steals of the draft in Bralen Trice to add to the edge rotation, but this offseason has shown that they are betting big on those on this roster who take massive steps in their development. Arnold Ebiketie, the 2022 second-round rusher, is the leading returning sack receiver with 6.0 from last season. If Ebiketie can reach/get close to that double-digit sack total, the Falcons could reach and surpass the 40 sack mark.

Is 40 bags a low bar? Absolutely, but you have to start somewhere.

3) Who plays cornerback on the other side of AJ Terrell?

Answer: Work in progress…

Speaking of the gambles this year’s team made last year, the Falcons seemingly refused to address the CB2 position. AJ Terrell is in a contract year and has fluctuated between elite and good status since his 2021 season. He is talented and deserves this extension, but he and safety Jessie Bates III can only do so much.

Atlanta made some signings, adding Antonio Hamilton, Sr., Kevin King and Anthony Johnson to the roster throughout free agency. However, the second cornerback position is up for grabs for most of the cornerback room.

Mike Hughes and Clark Phillips III both have contenders for the position as Phillips played admirably in his opportunities last season, while Hughes showed flashes of solid play last time he was a full-time starter at outside in 2021, as head of Kansas City. .

Filling that other slot is still a work in progress, but they’ve at least tried to remedy the situation. How successful were they? That remains to be seen.

4) Did Drake London get help in the wide receiver room?

Answer: Absolutely

Drake London led all Falcons receivers with 905 receiving yards last season. The next wide receiver? Mack Hollins with 251. London hasn’t needed such help since 1666, and it arrived in droves this offseason.

Atlanta signed former Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney in the first wave of free agency, then found a way to pull off the rare player-for-player trade by acquiring wide receiver/offensive weapon Rondale Moore for quarterback Desmond Ridder, both of whom needed a fresh start.

Even with these additions, the Falcons weren’t finished. They drafted Illinois outside ball winner Casey Washington in the sixth round as another potential draft steal.

It was clear that the offseason watchword for the receivers room was speed, and they added plenty of it. With this overhaul, London received a lot of help and this offense received a much-needed facelift that could help them compete for a playoff spot in 2024.

5) Did they do enough to overtake the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South?

Answer: On paper? Yes

Quarterback Baker Mayfield was overlooked when the Bucs signed last season, as they were considered a rebuilding team following the departure of Tom Brady. Instead, Tampa Bay won nine games, including five of its last six games, to win the NFC South for a third straight year.

After outfitting this roster with offensive weapons galore, the Falcons got rid of Smith to get the modern mold of a contender: a Shanahan/McVay-type offense and a quarterback-heavy defense that bends but doesn’t break . Was that enough to overtake them for the division? On paper, yes.

Games are not played on paper. The Bucs retained much of their core, including Mayfield, star wide receiver Mike Evans and star safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., making them as formidable as they were last season. If the Falcons’ plan goes as planned, it won’t matter. Atlanta will have too much talent for Tampa Bay to overcome.