Atlanta made a lot of noise with the veteran’s signing, followed by the selection of Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the draft.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Fla. — The Atlanta Falcons have selected offensive players — four at skill positions, including quarterback — in the top 10 of each of the past four NFL drafts. So far, the strategy hasn’t yielded positive results.
In three years under head coach Arthur Smith, the Falcons went 21-30 — three straight 7-10 seasons — and missed the playoffs. Smith was fired after last season, and Raheem Morris, the former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator and onetime Falcons assistant and interim head coach, was hired to take his place.
Morris, who brings most of his Rams assistants with him, isn’t the only major change. The Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a free-agent contract in March that will pay him about $100 million in guaranteed money. Cousins will be the linchpin under center for a team that has struggled at quarterback in recent years. He represents hope of being the missing piece for those first-round picks at skill positions to reach their potential. He will try to lead Atlanta to its first winning season since 2017.
Kirk Cousins comes to an offense with explosive young players at skill positions, but will it be enough in Atlanta? Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Here’s a look at how the offensive roster looks after minicamp, and an assessment of whether each group looks better, worse, or the same as last year.
Quarterbacks
They return: Taylor Heinicke
Subtractions: Desmond Ridder, Logan Woodside
Additions: Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr.
Better, worse, or the same? Better
No other quarterback group improved as much. Why? Because not only did the Falcons sign Cousins, a proven and productive veteran, they also selected a coveted college quarterback at No. 8 overall in Penix.
Atlanta’s present and future at the position should be strong, something that hasn’t been said of the team since Matt Ryan took over the position before being traded in 2022. Only two quarterbacks have thrown more touchdown passes since 2020 than Cousins: Patrick Mahomes y Josh Allen.
Plus, Cousins’ four-year, $180 million contract looks better considering the recent activity in the quarterback market. Suddenly, the general manager Terry Fontenot does not look so lost, securing the most important position in the sport in the long term.
Wide Receivers
They return: Drake London, KhaDarel Hodge, Chris Blair
Subtractions: Scotty Miller, Van Jefferson, Mack Hollins, Frank Darby, Damier Byrd
Additions: Darnell Mooney, Rondale Moore, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Casey Washington, Josh Ali, Isaiah Wooden
Better, worse, or the same? Better
One of the Falcons’ biggest offseason priorities, outside of adding a quarterback, was adding a secondary wide receiver to complement London. Atlanta feels it has accomplished that with the arrival of Mooney, who arrives as a free agent from the Chicago Bears.
Moore, who was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for Ridder, and McCloud could have offensive roles, too.
The Falcons selected Washington in the sixth round, and he showed promise during the spring. There are a few other names who will be in contention for a job during training camp as part of a group that is at least faster than last year’s.
Runners
They return: Sesame Robinson, Tyler Allgeier
Subtractions: Cordarrelle Patterson, Godwin Igwebuike, Keith Smith
Additions: Avery Williams, Carlos Washington Jr., Jase McClellan, Robert Burns
Better, worse, or the same? Better
Patterson is a solid player who left to follow Smith, now the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, discounting a second-year drop, Robinson should improve in 2024.
He said in the spring that he hopes to be used a bit like the San Francisco 49ers do with Christian McCaffreysomething that caught the attention of Falcons fans as well as fantasy football enthusiasts.
Allgeier is also a good runner with at least a 1,000-yard season under his belt. They should combine for a formidable duo in the new offense, led by offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Closed wings
They return: Kyle Pitts, John FitzPatrick
Subtractions: John Smith, MyCole Pruitt, Parker Hesse, Tucker Fisk
Additions: Charlie Woerner, Austin Stogner, Ross Dwelley
Better, worse, or the same? Same
If Pitts can return to the form he showed as a rookie, then this unit will undoubtedly be better than it was in 2023. Otherwise, it will be basically the same.
The Falcons added Woerner and Dwelley, a pair of former Niners players known more for blocking than catching. The tight end group is clearly built around Pitts, though. He’ll line up wide at times as a receiver, and Robinson is expected to use him in a variety of ways. It can’t hurt that Pitts will have the best quarterback he’s had thus far in his career with the addition of Cousins.
Offensive line
They return: Jake Matthews, Chris Lindstrom, Drew Dalman, Kaleb McGary, Matthew Bergeron, Tyler Vrabel, Storm Norton, Ryan Neuzil, John Leglue, Kyle Hinton, Jovaughn Gwyn
Subtractions: Isaiah Prince
Additions: Jaryd Jones-Smith, Barry Wesley, Andrew Stueber, Ryan Coll
Better, worse, or the same? Same
The Falcons bring back their intact offensive line from last season, and that’s a good thing.
Led by left tackle Matthews and guard Lindstrom, Atlanta possesses one of the best groups in the NFL. Lindstrom is a two-time Pro Bowler and Matthews is a tough veteran who has been with the team since its Super Bowl appearance eight years ago. Dalman is a steady center, McGary is a solid run blocker at right tackle, and Bergeron is someone Morris has revealed has improved markedly since his rookie campaign in 2023.
2024-07-04 18:31:18
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