Falcons Roster: Where Does Atlanta Rank Among NFL’s Best?

With the first waves of free company and the NFL draft nicely within the rearview mirror, rosters across the league are league are starting to take form.

For the Atlanta Falcons, the surface notion is not optimistic concerning the workforce put collectively by second-year common supervisor Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith, with ESPN rating the Falcons roster because the second worst within the NFL.

Regardless of buying and selling quarterback Matt Ryan and dropping key gamers in main tackler Foye Oluokun and high receiver Russell Gage, Atlanta added a number of affect gamers in free company, together with cornerback Casey Hayward. Per ESPN, the addition of Hayward makes the Falcons’ cornerbacks room the workforce’s greatest energy.

The cornerback duo of A.J. Terrell and Casey Hayward Jr. might be one saving grace on a roster with a complete lot of query marks. Sixty-five cornerbacks performed at the least 400 protection snaps throughout the 2021 common season, and no two gamers in that group allowed fewer receiving yards per recreation than Terrell (12.5) and Hayward (22.8). One other season like that from Terrell would additional cement his standing as one of many league’s high corners at simply 24 years outdated. – ESPN’s Ben Linsey

Whereas Georgia is not essentially identified for its islands, Terrell and Hayward, a pair of Peach State natives, present defensive coordinator Dean Pees with an oceanfront view.

For pretty much as good because the again finish of Atlanta’s protection appears to be like, the trenches are nonetheless in want of enchancment. Regardless of extending defensive sort out Grady Jarrett, signing free agent outdoors linebacker Lorenzo Carter and drafting go rushers Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone, ESPN views the line of defense because the Falcons’ greatest weak point.

The Falcons’ line of defense is in a greater spot than it was a season in the past. Nonetheless, it nonetheless has the potential to be Grady Jarrett and a bunch of different guys if second-round choose Arnold Ebiketie does not hit the bottom operating. Even Jarrett wasn’t fairly as efficient final season as he has been all through a lot of his profession. Jarrett’s 67.6 PFF grade in 2021 was his first sub-80 grade because the 2016 season (62.7). – Linsey

With Fontenot and Smith stressing that Atlanta’s closing roster, notably within the trenches, nonetheless is not within the constructing, it is attainable the Falcons can enhance their rating shifting ahead. The query administration now should reply is how a lot Atlanta can climb earlier than Week 1.