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[Atlanta Falcons]

Cherishing Grady Jarrett’s legacy in Atlanta

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Following a decade of consistent high-level play in the trenches, the beloved defensive tackle leaves the Falcons as an all-time franchise great.

No matter the circumstances, there was always one guarantee over the last decade when the Atlanta Falcons stepped on the field. Grady Jarrett would play his heart out and make his presence felt. Sometimes, the standout plays translated into dominant performances where opposing interior lines couldn’t block him.

Jarrett’s blistering first step and tremendous anticipation off the line of scrimmage overwhelmed offenses. His relentless motor pushed him to greater heights to become one of the top interior tackles in the league for several years.

The highlight-reel moments normally led to the Falcons’ color commentator Dave Archer’s iconic call of “you shall not pass.” That’s how it felt when Jarrett accelerated into the backfield or crushed the pocket. Opponents were in a world of trouble when the two-time Pro Bowler split through a double-team attempt or generated pressure off a vicious move.

Jarrett would produce a sack or tackle for a loss in such a flash that it would require a replay practically every time for viewers to comprehend how he did it. His explosiveness was astonishing for an interior tackle.

The Road to Stardom​

For all his stellar performances and longevity, it’s easy to forget how Jarrett was overlooked entering the league. Skeptics questioned whether he could hold up in the trenches as a starter due to being undersized. Those concerns quickly vanished by Jarrett’s second season as he developed into a force for a memorable 2016 Falcons team.

The former fifth-round pick proved his fortitude by playing nose tackle during long stretches. As depleted as the Falcons were on the interior, which proved to be a recurring theme during his career, he took on the challenge and didn’t allow frequent double teams to rattle him despite being undersized for the role.

The resilience to handle a role that didn’t suit his skill set showed what type of a player Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn had identified to trade up for in the 2015 draft. They found a well-rounded, disruptive defensive lineman who could line up in multiple areas and be an impact player. His promising second season culminated in a memorable three-sack performance in the Super Bowl.

That set the stage for a classic third-year breakout season. Jarrett had a career-high 15 tackles for a loss and produced some of his best performances in must-win division games. He was outstanding in victories over Tampa Bay and Carolina to help secure a wild card spot in 2017.

The way Atlanta’s loss to Philadelphia in the 2018 divisional round playoffs ended up being his last playoff appearance is incredibly frustrating for such an exceptional player. As Jarrett ascended into one of the best interior tackles in the league, the team regressed year after year before downward spirals in 2019 and 2020 eventually meant the end of the era.

Quinn and Dimitroff were fired. Franchise cornerstones like Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman, Alex Mack, and Desmond Trufant were no longer on the team. Jarrett had already grown into a leadership role, becoming one of the faces of the franchise. Being at the center of a total rebuild was the next challenge for the 2019 second-team All-Pro.

Heart and Soul​

Sacrifices had to be made across the organization following the end of the Quinn and Dimitroff era. Jarrett embraced it by lining up as an edge rusher at times in 2020 and 2021. Playing on defenses with major talent limitations in an organization with limited resources, Atlanta’s well-established fan favorite never complained and continuously played with urgency regardless of how much the team struggled.

His determination and professionalism earned frequent praise from defensive guru Dean Pees, who rarely publicly commended individual players. Many star players in their prime would have requested a trade on a team facing a multiple-year rebuild. Jarrett remained loyal and led by example on and off the field.

SB Nation’s finest Jeanna Kelley interviewed him about his work with the Rally Foundation to raise money for kids fighting cancer. He has been nominated multiple times for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Arthur Blank’s recent statement about his humility in representing Atlanta is a testament to his strong character. Jarrett made an impact with everything he did.

At a difficult time for the franchise, he gave the fanbase something to cheer for and be proud of. To establish a standard of excellence, you must have the commitment and desire to be the best. Jarrett proved that with his work ethic by taking the initiative on and off the field. He became the heart and soul of the franchise after Matt Ryan’s departure in 2022.

When Jarrett missed time, his absence was strongly felt. The Falcons’ defense couldn’t maintain their impressive revival in 2023 after their leader tore his ACL in a loss to Tennessee. After playing over 700 snaps for six consecutive seasons, it was an odd sight not to see number 97 in the trenches causing havoc. Suffering a devastating season-ending injury, following years of rarely leaving the field in such a demanding role, was bound to leave lingering effects on the stalwart defensive lineman.

That was evident in 2024 where he wasn’t the same commanding presence that could terrorize opposing offensive lines. Sustaining that standard of excellence can be difficult after a gruesome injury and years of punishment taking on blocks in the trenches. It didn’t help that the organization failed to provide the talent around him to relieve the pressure off him. Jarrett was the lone player coaches had to game plan for when preparing to face the Falcons. Years of being that primary figure without much support will ultimately take its toll.

One of Them Ones​

Despite being adored in Atlanta, it wasn’t a major surprise that the franchise moved on from him. After another season of being at the bottom of several defensive categories, major upgrades are needed across the unit. Freeing up over $16 million in 2025 cap room by releasing Jarrett is logical for a team that needs to get younger defensively. Jarrett understands the business side of the sport, knowing his worth in signing a lucrative contract with Chicago about five hours after being released.

In an interview with Falcons’ senior reporter Tori McElhaney, he opened up about always wanting to do his best to let his legacy speak for itself. Between being one of the driving forces behind the defensive success in the great 2016 and 2017 seasons and giving fans something to cherish with his standout performances during dark times from 2018 to 2021, Jarrett will forever be revered. Being the consummate professional who always worked relentlessly to grow and uplift teammates deserves enormous praise.

Stepping up as a leader when it would have been easy to request a trade during the transition from Quinn to Arthur Smith must be acknowledged. Not many players at the peak of their careers would have been willing to stay on a team unable to compete for a playoff spot for multiple seasons.

Most of all, Jarrett is a man of integrity who focused on improvement, never made excuses and did everything he could to help save lives off the field. Raheem Morris said you can’t put a value on what he is and what he represents. What we can do is reflect on the career of a true all-time franchise great by appreciating everything Jarrett did for a decade.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...lanta-falcons-raheem-morris-dan-quinn-clemson

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons re-sign OT Brandon Parker

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Another veteran depth option along the offensive line re-joins the fray.

The Atlanta Falcons continue their trend of OL re-signings (sans-Drew Dalman) by bringing swing tackle Brandon Parker back.

Parker initially joined the Falcons at the beginning of the 2024 season.

Pen to paper for Brandon Parker!

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) March 13, 2025​

Parker was selected by the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders in the third round of the 2018 draft, and he has 33 starts under his belt. Injuries and up-and-down play eventually moved Parker to the bench, but the veteran has found a role in the league as a depth tackle with versatility at both the left and right tackle positions.

With Parker and fellow tackle Storm Norton back in the fold, Atlanta has shored up its tackle depth and will likely forgo drafting one for another year. The Falcons have prioritized their offensive line so far with quick decisions on the contracts of Drew Dalman and Jake Matthews, which were matched with a flurry of depth re-signings.

The biggest hole (the center positions) remains, but options like Garrett Bradbury, David Andrews, or a rookie could fill that void.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...ndon-parker-storm-norton-nfl-free-agency-2025

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

The Falcons are refining their defense, not overhauling it

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Atlanta is trying to build on an underperforming 2024 group, not blow it up, for better or for worse.

When Raheem Morris took over the Atlanta Falcons last year, he made comparatively few changes to the defense. Perhaps that was out of a desire to use premium draft capital on offense—the team took Michael Penix in the first round—or to use free agent dollars on solving the intractable problem of quarterback by also signing Kirk Cousins. Regardless of the rationale, the team made comparatively few impact changes besides signing Justin Simmons and Matthew Judon after injuries struck, sticking with low-key additions and future contributors on defense.

We saw how that went. The defense regressed mightily, Jimmy Lake was fired, and Judon and Simmons disappointed. There is little question the Falcons have to add talent to the defense in free agency and the draft this year to coax major improvement out of that side of the ball, but the question concerned whether they would favor the maximal overhaul their limited resources would allow or refinements of an approach given that it takes more than one year to build a defense.

Free agency hasn’t even opened yet, but I suspect we have our answer, and the answer is the one most of us expected. With Jeff Ulbrich on board as the new defensive coordinator, the Falcons are going to tweak their approach and add talent, but the approach is to lean heavily on who they have on board and count on improvement. The players they’re adding are scheme fits, coveted players for Ulbrich, and familiar faces including Ulbrich, and they’re expecting a far better result.

Will that work out? We’re months away from being able to comment on that and weeks away from knowing how deep the re-molding will go, but we do know a few things already:

• The team said they were drafting Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus with an eye on the future and got little from either in year one; with Grady Jarrett our and David Onyemata possibly on the chopping block, the future is right now. The Falcons will add more talent, but Orhorhoro in particular is going to be relied upon to be a major force up front.
• Judon was added to give a lackluster EDGE group some juice, juice that he didn’t really provide. The Falcons are now turning to a more familiar face in Leonard Floyd to fill that same role, counting on Floyd’s known performance in a Raheem Morris defense and steady track record to allow him to have more success than Judon enjoyed last year.
• The Falcons basically didn’t touch their inside linebacker group a year ago and paid for it, with JD Bertrand looking like a capable reserve but not much more, Troy Andersen getting injured, and Nate Landman’s lack of speed hurting him and this Falcons defense mightily. The Divine Deablo signing gives them speed in spades and some intriguing upside for a staff that prides itself on molding young players; he has no direct ties to this staff but is a signing who directly addresses the weaknesses Landman brought to the table last year at the expense of run defense.
• The secondary needs a lot more help, but re-signing Hughes after a pretty good 2024 is hardly a surprising move. The Falcons will likely target a significant upgrade at nickel this year after Dee Alford’s rough season, but Hughes was steady and the team likes his coverage and physicality quite a bit. He gives them a proven starter and, if they add more talent, a top-shelf reserve at worst. Mike Ford is a break-in-case-of-emergency option at cornerback, as well, and has been decent enough on those rare occasions he’s been asked to fill-in.

There will be more moves to come as the Falcons clear out more space, but you see the pillars of what the Falcons are hoping to do in 2025 already. They’re leaning on improvement and good health from young players (Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Terrell, Bralen Trice, DeMarcco Hellams, to name several) and bolstering weaknesses with scheme fits and familiar faces. Morris and Ulbrich are sending the clear message that Lake’s stewardship of the defense and a handful of underperforming players were a bigger problem than scheme and the broader roster, cutting that path while acknowledging that most of their draft and free agent capital this offseason still needs to go toward building it up. The defense will be expected to

It won’t be difficult to find modest improvement after the defense cratered so hard in 2024, but at the moment, there are still many ifs and buts to be found on that side of the ball. The hope is that this opening salvo of signings is just a glimpse of the improvements the Falcons intend to make, and that the plan won’t be to rely too heavily on steps forward from players who have not yet shown they can be great. The Falcons still believe that they have a foundation and a philosophy that will work with the right pieces, and it’s one of the many bets they’re set to place in a pivotal 2025.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...g-it-raheem-morris-jeff-ulbrich-leonard-floyd

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons sign DL Morgan Fox

Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Atlanta adds to their rotation up front with Fox, who should help the pass rush.

The Atlanta Falcons have signed defensive lineman Morgan Fox to a 2-year, $8.5M contract.

The news comes via insider Peter Schrager.

Morgan Fox is signing with the Atlanta Falcons, sources tell @RapSheet , @TomPelissero , and @MikeGarafolo (THE INSIDERS), and me.

Deal is for 2 years and can get to over $8.5 m. Deal done by @aurasportsgroup agents @NessMugrabi + @davidcanter .

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) March 14, 2025​

Fox has 15.5 sacks in the last three seasons, 5.5 more than former Falcon Grady Jarrett in the same timeframe. Fox is a solid addition to a team that needs pass rush help as badly as Atlanta, and he fits the 3-4 scheme Atlanta ran last year.

Fox will pick up snaps from Grady Jarrett’s departure, likely playing in the 3T-5T alignments where he has seen success the past few seasons in Los Angeles. Fox has proven he can be a solid pass rush committee member, and the price the team is paying for his production is a steal. That being said, Fox is 30, and his production has declined each of the past three seasons. He also isn’t a strong run defender.

However, Fox still managed to finish tied for 32nd in sacks for his position, according to PFF, with nearly 200 fewer snaps than Jarrett. Fox will be a great depth and spell player for Atlanta’s young defensive linemen (Brandon Dorlus, Ruke Orhorhoro, Zach Harrison), who are looking to take big strides and eat up far more snaps in 2025.

Atlanta Falcons new DL Morgan Fox - displays a good pass rush plan and has a set of repeatable set ups and counters - the motor runs hot - solid addition for the price

— Tre’Shon Diaz (@treshon.io) 2025-03-14T21:46:56.409Z

The process has been slow, but Fontenot has added proven pass rush production to this roster. They may not offer long-term answers, but not every addition will. Atlanta can still add more firepower to the pass rush with a trade for Trey Hendrickson or multiple draft selections.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...orhorhoro-brandon-dorlus-nfl-free-agency-2025

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Week one free agency roundup: Grading the Atlanta Falcons and their moves

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Working around the cap isn’t fun, but Atlanta got a few deals done in the first week of free agency.

Disclaimer: Due to the nature of Atlanta’s cap situation, I did not grade these moves based on the “splashy” nature, but purely off their potential effectiveness and how they affect the team in the near future.

Free agency is a time of hope in a time where most NFL fans are yearning for it. The new league year starts and the page is officially turned toward the 2025 season. For the Atlanta Falcons, there were questions about what this free agency period would hold after coming into the week over the cap. General Manager Terry Fontenot spent his first two years scraping the Falcons out of cap hell, all for one ill-advised contract to potentially push Atlanta right back into it.

Luckily, based on the first three games of his career, the Falcons did end up finding a legitimate signal-caller in soon-to-be-second-year quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. Now, this off-season is dedicated to pushing this defense to meet the offense where it’s projected to be with four first-round picks.

With the first week of this push to prioritize the defense in the book, we grade each of Atlanta’s signings, releases and everything in between.

Releasing DT Grady Jarrett​

Grade: C-​

With the Falcons coming in over the cap, there were questions about what difficult decisions had to be made to get back under.

I don’t think any fans in Atlanta could have expected this.

Grady Jarrett, the decade-long leader of the defense, found himself a cap casualty on the first day of free agency. While his $16.25 million cap relief was nice and ultimately, probably necessary, losing that kind of voice on that side of the football is a tough pill to swallow. Not to mention the defensive tackle that was expected to not be on the team in 2025, David Onyemata, is still on the roster. That’s probably due to the projected $10.5 million cap savings as a post-June 1 cut, according to OverTheCap.com.

Extending OT Jake Matthews​

Grade: B-​

With Jarrett gone, the final piece of the magical 2016 Super Bowl run is 33-year-old Jake Matthews. And, according to his new $45 million extension, there’s no signs, at least to the front office, of him slowing down. The $7 million the move freed up helped Atlanta become cap compliant ahead of Wednesday’s new league year deadline.

Not much to be said about this deal. Matthews doesn’t seem to be close to any cliff athletically and has been an above average to good tackle for his entire 11-year career in Atlanta.

So, for the front office to come to the conclusion of “What’s two more years?” isn’t necessarily surprising.

Signing LB Divine Deablo​

Grade: A​

First of all, what a name.

Secondly, whether that was sideline to sideline or in coverage, Atlanta seemed to be particularly susceptible to big plays on the second level due to a lack of athleticism in 2024. So, the low-risk bet on a player like Deablo, who continued to show flashes as a Las Vegas Raider, is one that could potentially pay off handsomely for the Falcons.

With Andersen’s health and Landman’s roster status uncertain, Atlanta needed to find a way to upgrade at linebacker. While the top of the draft is still a possibility, the Deablo signing gives Atlanta a certainty that they allocate resources to building out that part of the defense.

Re-signing CB Mike Hughes​

Grade: B​

After being one of the lone bright spots from last year’s defense, Mike Hughes may have found himself a home as, at minimum depth at the cornerback position, in Atlanta. Hughes is another low-cost bet as his three year, $18 million contract makes it easy to look to draft to potentially find an answer.

However, if you’re unable to land one, you feel pleased with knowing what you’re getting on the outside with Hughes on the other side of Terrell.

This is another bargain bet later on in the first week that could pay off very well for Atlanta, especially if Hughes keeps the same level of play as last season under new DC Jeff Ulbrich.

Signing EDGE Leonard Floyd​

Grade: B+​

Signing a pass rusher of Leonard Floyd’s caliber will always score brownie points with Falcons fans. Actually, signing a pass rusher period is usually enough, but when they are coming off an 8.5 sack season and have had the career success (two years of 10+ sacks, including 2023 w/ Buffalo), it’s going to be looked at quite fondly.

That being said, we were just here last season with the Matt Judon signing. While brushing that off with a simple “oh, that was different” like Red from Friday may be the answer, we have to acknowledge that there are some risks of the same sort of fall-off for a 32-year-old Floyd.

Signing CB Mike Ford, CB Keith Taylor, LB Josh Woods​

Grade: B​

Will this signing be the difference between the Falcons winning a Super Bowl or not? Probably not. But when you’re re-building a defense, you need every advantage you can get, including field position.

When playing Atlanta, teams, on average, started at around their own 31-yard-line, which ranks 21st in the NFL. Not bad, but think about gaining a yard or two on average on every drive and what that could do for a defense that will be trying to find itself in 2025?

All that to say, securing a special teams ace like Mike Ford, who already has experience playing for Special Teams Coordinator Marquice Williams in 2022 for $2 million a year is a steal.

The Falcons also secured LB Josh Woods to potentially push for a bottom of the roster spot. Cornerback Keith Taylor is also credible depth and special teams help, as well.

Re-signing WR KhaDarel Hodge​

Grade: A​

Good teams reward good players when they have good years. That’s exactly what the Falcons did for Pro Bowl special teams extraordinaire KhaDarel Hodge.

For years, Hodge has continued to do whatever this team has needed from him to help them be in a better position to win. Last year, that all came to a head as he showed out with multiple huge plays on special teams from blocked punts to recovering fumbles for touchdowns.

Every team needs players who have that dog mentality and Hodge is being rewarded for his with job security and a nice pay raise.

Re-signing DL Ta’Quon Graham​

Grade: C+​

There’s not really much to say about this re-signing, Ta’Quon Graham has shown flashes of being a good depth piece and, so long as he’s on the field (he missed seven games last season due to a season-ending pectoral injury), he will continue to be a solid piece for the Falcons.

Re-signing OL Kyle Hinton, Elijah Wilkinson, Storm Norton, Brandon Parker​

Grade: B-​

I lumped all of Atlanta’s offensive line depth moves into one, because, that’s what they are. They are the Falcons re-signing and retaining continuity along one of the better offensive lines in the league.

I couldn’t give it an A or better, because the one player that truly needed to be resigned, center Drew Dalman, left to grab a nice bag with the Chicago Bears (or Chicago Falcons, apparently).

But shoring up the offensive line and allowing resources in the draft to go toward building the defense is good process for where the Falcons are right now in their re-build/tooling.

Signing DL Morgan Fox​

Grade: A​

When one door closes, another door opens.

The young core of Ruke Orhorhoro, Ta’Quon Graham, Zach Harrison and Brandon Dorlus should be improved from last year, but it probably won’t be enough to propel this line to the heights of a playoff-caliber defense. Especially without a veteran presence like Jarrett to lead them on the line.

In comes Morgan Fox.

Yes, he’s on the wrong side of 30 and isn’t the most stout of run defenders, but his production as a pass-rusher is more than enough to warrant the $4.25 million a year bet.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...s-and-their-moves-grady-jarrett-leonard-floyd

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons sign CB Keith Taylor

Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

Atlanta adds another reserve to their cornerback group.

The Atlanta Falcons need to stock depth and they need help in their secondary, where poor tackling and blown assignments marred the 2024 season. They’ve added the former with cornerback Keith Taylor, and we’ll have to see if he can provide the latter.

The team announced the signing on Friday, bringing the 26-year-old into the fold at a position where the Falcons recently re-signed Mike Hughes and added Mike Ford. While Ford is primarily a special teamer who will only play cornerback in case of emergency, Taylor is a capable enough special teamer who might be relied upon more on defense if injuries pile up. That’s if he makes the team, naturally.

Taylor has had stints for the Panthers and Chiefs in his NFL career, which began as a fifth round pick for Carolina back in 2021. He’s faced the Falcons multiple times—though notably not last year with the Chiefs—and has a pair of pass deflections and several tackles. While Taylor has length at 6’3”, his career thus far has mostly been uneven in both coverage and run support, though he’s a capable enough tackler who has played both inside and outside.

The size and physicality may well be something he can build on for a team that was mostly stocked with veteran (read: over 30) depth a year ago, so it’s a worthwhile cheap flier. The Falcons clearly saw some potential here they liked, and Taylor will hope to develop in what’s likely to be the team’s no better than the fifth cornerback role when the dust settles on the offseason, should he make the team.

Give Taylor a warm welcome and we’ll see what he can do this summer.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/3/14/24386012/falcons-sign-cb-keith-taylor-mike-ford-mike-hughes

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Now Kirk Cousins and the Falcons wait

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

With the roster bonus for next year locked in, the Falcons have no incentive to do anything but hold or trade the veteran quarterback.

It’s official: The Atlanta Falcons have paid out a $10 million bonus for Kirk Cousins in 2026, killing the last swirls of the narrative that the team would be forced to cut him. While it has been reported that Kirk Cousins met with Arthur Blank about his future and wants to start somewhere, he’s going to need to wait until a trade materializes for that to happen.

NFL insider Mike Garafolo makes it clear the Falcons, despite the public beating they’ve taken over the Cousins contract and the decision to hold on to him instead of cutting him outright, were never interested in just setting him loose and eating all that money. I suggested as much when he was benched in December, though I viewed (and still view) the team going into the season with Cousins as the backup as a longshot.

The #Falcons were never bluffing here. The $10m for 2026 is subject to offset language, meaning whoever is paying him next year will pick up Atlanta’s tab for part or all of the guarantee. This deadline might cost Atlanta $0 in the end. Worth it to hold him and wait for a trade. https://t.co/GmAcAujFub

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 15, 2025​

Essentially there were two interminable feeling waits for Cousins and the Falcons before this, and now we’re entering a new one. The first was seeing when the team would actually bench Cousins, who went an absurdly long time without throwing a touchdown pass while melting down last season. The second was seeing what the Falcons would do with Cousins before that roster bonus deadline and free agency began, and whether they would actually hold on to him. Now that they have, it’s simply about waiting for a trade to come together.

And while my confidence for that outcome in December was probably higher than was warranted, I think it’s quite reasonable now. The Titans, Browns, Steelers, and Giants all need starting quarterbacks in a fairly slim market, and the Vikings, 49ers, and a handful of other teams could use stopgap starters or top backups. Cousins would likely need to see a path to a starting job to waive his no-trade clause, but given that teams are choosing between a quarterback in a weak draft class or the likes of the underwhelming Russell Wilson or ancient Aaron Rodgers, Cousins on what amounts to a fairly reasonable one year deal with an option to cut him loose in 2026 or restructure will likely seem shinier as time goes on and franchises whiff on preferred options. The Falcons will then also likely clear that $10 million roster bonus off their books for 2026, regardless.

When that day comes, we don’t know, and the Falcons have essentially locked themselves into keeping a disgruntled (but still smiling) Cousins should a trade not come to pass. Given that the money is allocated for this year more or less regardless, having veteran insurance in the absolute last resort or getting a modest return to save a lot of money in the future is not a bad crossroads to be at. Team and player simply have to wait to see what options will present themselves.

The Falcons have egg on their face from almost every step of this saga with Cousins, from perhaps not fulling considering his recovery to the tampering penalty to the delayed benching to Cousins’ post-season comments about injury. If you’re going to give them credit for anything besides being aggressive enough to pursue both the top free agent option and draft Michael Penix Jr. last year, give it for not being willing to let public perception or Cousins’ preferences dictate what they did in this situation. If they can only salvage so much, at least they can salvage something.

We’ll see where Cousins ultimately lands and what the Falcons do at backup quarterback should they flip Cousins elsewhere, but the good news is that Penix will be their quarterback of the moment and the future regardless. May he lead us out of the muck and mire.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...nfl-free-agency-trades-browns-giants-steelers

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons garner more questions than answers in latest PFN power rankings

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

What is the direction of this team? And is it already too late to not have a definitive answer?

As the dust settles and the first week of free agency comes to a close, the 2025 NFL landscape begins to become a bit clearer. Now, there are a few key dominoes that still need to fall into place: Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers still need to figure out where they’re playing football, and the Cincinnati Bengals have to reach a verdict on what to do about Trey Hendrickson.

For the most part, though, the big moves are all done and the directions for most of the NFL teams are set. That gave Pro Football Network a perfect opportunity to drop their Post-Free Agency power rankings, outlining where each team lies as we inch closer to the NFL draft.

For the Atlanta Falcons, there have been more questions than answers about the direction of the franchise. How aggressive can they truly be with a question mark at quarterback? With their limited resources, how much can they overhaul a defense that finished in mediocre fashion in terms of both EPA allowed (20th) and defensive success rate (24th)

Pro Football Network’s Kyle Soppe had similar questions about this peculiar Falcons team, driving them toward the bottom of these rankings at 19th. They were also 2nd in the NFC South behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7th) and a disappointing 12th in the NFC.

According to the power rankings, the Falcons finish behind these teams in the NFC:

• Detroit Lions (2nd)
• Philadelphia Eagles (4th)
• Washington Commanders (6th)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7th)
• Green Bay Packers (8th)
• Los Angeles Rams (11th)
• Minnesota Vikings (12th)
• Arizona Cardinals (13th)
• Chicago Bears (15th)
• San Francisco 49ers (17th) and the
• Seattle Seahawks (18th).

There’s still a lot of uncertainty surrounding Michael Penix Jr.

The No. 8 overall pick in 2024, Penix only attempted 105 passes as a rookie — most of them against weaker competition. That means we still don’t really know what the Falcons have in him.

What we do know is that their defense regressed significantly, dropping from 11th in 2023 to 29th in 2024.

The Atlanta Falcons remained competitive last season, with six of their nine losses coming by one score. That suggests they could be a surprise playoff team if Penix develops quickly — especially in a weaker NFC South.

2025 is a year where questions have to be answered as far as the direction of the team, Penix being first among them.

The middle class of the NFC is stacked up with teams waiting for the right moment to pounce on a title opportunity. The Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, the San Francisco 49ers, the Minnesota Vikings, and even the Dallas Cowboys are all potential playoff contenders that are taking steps to becoming actual contenders in the conference.

Okay, maybe not Dallas as much, but the point still stands. Atlanta is in danger of being left behind in a conference that refuses to wait for them to get the roster together; they really need their defensive moves to hit and Penix to be as special as his talent suggests he can be.

If this front office isn’t careful, they could find themselves much closer to a full-on rebuild then a re-tooling around the promising rookie quarterback. If that happens, who knows when the next playoff berth could be for the Falcons and their already disgruntled fanbase.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...-in-latest-pfn-power-rankings-nfl-free-agency

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons re-sign swing tackle Storm Norton

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Atlanta’s bringing back their quality offensive line depth in 2025.

The Atlanta Falcons have been fortunate to have quality offensive line depth in recent years, and they’re zealous about bringing those guys back. That’s why you saw them re-sign Elijah Wilkinson and Kyle Hinton yesterday, and that’s why they’re re-signing Storm Norton today.

The news comes from Norton’s representation at JL Sports.

Congratulations on client @Stormnorton74 signing with the @AtlantaFalcons on a 2-year deal

— JL Sports (@JLSports3) March 13, 2025​

Norton, who will be 31 this season, was a 15 game starter for the Chargers back in 2021 and has been a reserve since. Landing in Atlanta has been a blessing for him and the team, as he’s stepped right in for Kaleb McGary during the right tackle’s inevitable handful of snaps and/or games missed with injury and held up quite well, especially in pass protection. As is the case with Hinton, the Falcons trust Norton to be able to handle multiple spots in a pinch and hold his own, and that’s a valuable commodity in a league where poor line play is fairly common. He started one game a year ago and three in 2023.

With Norton under contract and joining Hinton and Wilkinson, the only real intrigue remaining for the offensive line is what the Falcons plan to do at center and whether they’ll draft a developmental tackle. Their depth should otherwise be pretty well set for the season ahead, and we welcome Norton’s return.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...rton-kaleb-mcgary-kyle-hinton-nfl-free-agency

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons re-sign DL Kentavius Street

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Atlanta brings back a familiar face to provide more depth along their defensive front.

The Atlanta Falcons could still use a standout defender up front, especially if the trio of Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, and Zach Harrison don’t take major steps forward in 2025. Their depth, though? That’s starting to take shape.

The team has veterans David Onyemata and the freshly signed Morgan Fox in their rotation and recently re-signed Ta’Quon Graham, who alongside LaCale London at least gives the Falcons some proven, solid reserves to soak up playing time. Now they’ve re-added Kentavius Street, giving them another veteran presence to round out the back of that rotation.

Dancing in the ATL Streets

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) March 17, 2025​

That’s what Street gives you at this stage of his career, and that’s fine. Familiar with this coaching staff and this team after spending most of the past two seasons in Atlanta, Street provides credible run defense and the very occasional burst of pass rushing productivity. As his two sacks and 14 pressures over nearly 550 snaps the past two years suggest, the latter piece is a bonus; the team is keeping him because he can step in on early downs and provide some value. Last year, he played 85 snaps at nose tackle, a career high and a suggestion that the Falcons think he’s an option there as often as they need him to be.

Street is not a lock to make this roster if the Falcons keep adding to the defensive line—both Graham and London offer more upside and I’d argue that Graham has been the better player when healthy—but having a familiar, solid defensive lineman as the last guy in your rotation is hardly a bad thing for the Falcons.

Atlanta is slowly but surely re-stocking the cupboard for their defense, and while they badly need to add impact talent across the board, their line depth is in a much better spot than it was a week ago. We’ll call that a win, however small, and give Street a warm welcome back to the Falcons.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...-taquon-graham-lacale-london-free-agency-2025

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Raheem Morris is entering a pivotal season where failure may mean being two-and-done

Atlanta extended their playoff drought to seven after missing the postseason in 2024. With a growing dissatisfaction among fans, the need to win now is more imperative than ever. If the team doesn’t, how hot is head coach Raheem Morris’ seat?

An eight season playoff drought. That’s what the Atlanta Falcons are staring at if they don’t turn the 2025-2026 season into a successful one. And while the end of next season is still a little under a year away, I get the sense that some front office and coaching staff figures could be heading out the door should the team not make the postseason again.

One of them is general manager Terry Fontenot, and we here at The Falcoholic had conversations regarding Fontenot’s future with Atlanta after the end of last season. Our take was that the signing of Kirk Cousins, the lack of a playoff berth in his tenure, and the violation of the NFL’s tampering policy that resulted in a forfeiture of our fifth round pick this draft as the main factors that could contribute to Fontenot getting the boot. For now, Fontenot’s job seems to be secure for another year.

That leaves Raheem Morris. Oftentimes for teams, the head coach and general manager’s futures have gone hand-in-hand. Examples include former head coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke being fired by the 49ers after tying a franchise worst 2-14 record in 2016, or when former head coach Hue Jackson and Sashi Brown were fired after their winless 2017 season in Cleveland (Brown was fired after Week 13). While that hasn’t always been the case for the Falcons under Blank, there’s cause for concern if you’re head coach Raheem Morris and Atlanta doesn’t deliver a playoff clinching season in 2025.

Throughout the season, Morris’ head was called for many times by fans, figuratively speaking, of course. This was due to several factors, but a few we can narrow down were Morris’ putrid clock management against Washington at the end of both halves, his weekly ambiguous press conferences, and his commitment to a struggling Kirk Cousins, although there may have been pressure from the front office and Blank to keep Cousins on the field.

These factors led to a tumultuous first year as head coach for Morris, and partly because he’s mostly still an unproven head coach sitting at a .382 win percentage, it seems like a “now or never” moment for Morris to prove that he’s what this team needs for the future.

Luckily for Morris, he has a team owner and president who’s known to run one of the most loyal front offices in the league. But with Arthur Smith getting just three years after a full-scale teardown in his first two years, should Morris be concerned for his future?

Head coaching tenures under Arthur Blank​

The head coach is easily one of the most volatile positions in the league, as every year at least a handful and sometimes up to a quarter of the league getting the axe. Under owner Arthur Blank and President Rich McKay, the team has been very generous with coach firings since Blank assumed ownership in 2002. Since that time, the Falcons have fired five coaches, and have hired six, which may sound like a high number but compared to the seven fired and nine hired head coaches the Cleveland Browns racked up in those 22 years, I’d say Atlanta is pretty charitable with head coaching tenures.

The shortest tenure under Blank was former head coach Bobby Petrino, who only coached the team for thirteen games before resigning after our 34-14 loss to the Saints on Monday Night Football. The 13 game tenure was not the fault of Blank and had circumstances even Petrino couldn’t see coming, as this was the year former quarterback Michael Vick was sent to prison for his involvement in an illegal dog fighting ring, leaving Petrino to operate with journeyman quarterbacks Byron Leftwitch, Chris Redman, and Joey Harrington, all players who could not fill the void of a dynamic signal caller like Vick. Still, Petrino left the team, not the other way around.

The longest tenure for a head coach under Blank was Mike Smith, who was hired in 2008 and fired after Week 17 of the 2014 season, a total of 7 years with the team which is honestly a pretty lengthy tenure for a head coach by today’s NFL standards. I’m not sure if it was because I was a kid and time just went by slower, but it definitely felt like Smith was the coach for forever. Smith, who lead Atlanta to five winning seasons and an NFC Championship berth, had a successful run as coach, albeit with quite the supporting cast of players behind him.

Perhaps where Blank’s generosity can be seen the most is during current Commanders head coach Dan Quinn’s tenure in Atlanta. Quinn was the coach for six seasons, and while having initial success in his second year leading Atlanta to a Super Bowl appearance, Quinn and the team struggled to rebound in the subsequent years, leading to a disappointing second round playoff exit in the 2017 season and two straight losing seasons until he was ultimately fired after going 0-5 in the midst of his third straight losing season in 2020.

The shortest tenure in which Blank both hired and fired a coach was Jim Mora from 2004 to 2006, and this would have stood if not for Blank hiring and firing Arthur Smith after three straight 7-10 seasons, which what I believe has now started a change in front office mindset. The talent is in the building and it has been for at least a couple of years.

This, combined with the Falcons playoff drought, is why management I believe has taken the approach of “whoever we hire needs to come in and cultivate a winning attitude now,” instead of the traditional “let’s give him a few years to develop and build this team.” Smith’s tenure can be characterized as a stagnant team identity crisis, and it was pretty apparent that he was not the future of Atlanta after the Marcus Mariota year, though he had got one more year with major free agency spending to try to dispel that. I think the same could start being tossed around for Morris should he not change his approach in 2025 and/or enjoy more success.

Why Raheem Morris could be two and done​

There are so many things that go into a successful head coaching tenure, and while most of the time it boils down to a win-loss record, it also depends on locker room morale, sideline presence, taking accountability, and for better or worse, popularity with the fan base. It’s one of the reasons Dan Campbell kept his job in Detroit after his first two seasons ending up in 3-13-1 and 9-8 records.

So many coaches would have been let go after that first three win year, and especially after the team started 1-6 the second year, and while it did help that Detroit turned it around and improved to 9-8 albeit missing the playoffs, Campbell being a fan favorite and highly regarded in the locker room and by ownership helped his case for one more year in Detroit, and allowed ownership to envision a future with him.

For Morris, I fear he doesn’t have the fans on his side even if Blank is in his corner, owing to the early lack of success in Atlanta, difficulty defending his decisions, and sub .400 overall head coaching record, I predict Morris’ seat to be hotter than he’d like for his second season. Not to mention, Blank and management interviewed some of the most sought after free agent coaches of 2024, including Mike Vrabel, Jim Harbaugh, and six time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick. With this in mind, whatever finish Morris has thats short of a Super Bowl, Atlanta fans will always have a “what if...” mindset, casting a dark cloud over Morris’ tenure that he may not be able to outrun.

With a seventh straight season missing the playoffs, the second longest streak in Falcons history, Atlanta is desperate for change and fans want the talent on the field to translate into production more than ever. Being the face of a team is the biggest responsibility in sports, and as the head coach, a fanbase is always looking at Morris for answers and solutions.

While I don’t necessarily believe Morris is a bad coach by any stretch of the imagination, I feel like he must do more in 2025 not just with translating talent into wins, but also with his approach to media and fans to be able to give compelling answers when questions arise or the team falls short. It’s one thing to have bad stretches and losses, but another to not be able to convincingly say how you’ll get the Falcons through and out of them.

Should Morris deliver another uninspiring year, will Blank and management see to it that he stay through 2026, or will they pivot faster than normal to a new coaching staff? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...on-to-avoid-being-two-and-done-terry-fontenot

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Offensive players the Falcons should pursue in the second wave of free agency

Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Falcons are closer to having an assembled offense, but there are intriguing free agents and needs to still take a swing at.

As we’ve said repeatedly this spring, the Atlanta Falcons need to focus most of their efforts on their mediocre defense. To this point, that’s largely what they’ve done, with their three biggest signings (Leonard Floyd, Divine Deablo, and Mike Hughes) all coming on that side of the ball. That should continue, and we will be looking at appealing free agents still out there for whenever the Falcons find a way to carve out some more 2025 cap space.

All that said, the offense is not without its warts. The team is set to be heavily reliant on Ray-Ray McCloud as their third receiver with no clear, high-end fourth option, they need to upgrade on Ross Dwelley’s 2024 nothingburger as the team’s third tight end, and most importantly, they need to add a starter or at least veteran competition at center. If the team finds an avenue to a little more cap space—something I know is not exactly a given—one or two of those needs should be addressed, and center more or less has to be.

With that in mind, here are a few free agents the team ought to take a look at, with a bonus player if the Falcons move Kirk Cousins.

C Garrett Bradbury​

You know what you’re getting in Bradbury, and it’s basically Drew Dalman Lite. Bradbury is a better run blocker than a pass protector, like Dalman, but last season he wasn’t close to as good at either of those things as Dalman was. His track record is better than those 2024 results, however, and Dalman’s decent work in pass protection in 2024 was an outlier in his career. Chances are that Bradbury would be a small upgrade on Dalman in terms of his pass pro while not offering the same caliber of run blocking acumen, which is no great surprise given that Dalman was a true standout in that regard.

Basically, Bradbury is a durable, low-end starter who has had enough solid seasons in the past to think he could step in and do a credible job as the team’s center in 2025 and perhaps 2026. The team would sign him expecting him to assume the job over incumbents Ryan Neuzil and Jovaughn Gwyn, and know full well that it’s unlikely he’ll suddenly morph into a great center. When you have the rest of your line set and competence and the ability to avoid injury thus seem very appealing, Bradbury seems like a good fit.

C David Andrews​

This isn’t the Andrews as he was at the height of the Patriots dynasty, when he was consistently one of the best centers in the league. His pass protection hasn’t been as sharp in recent years and Andrews is both on the wrong side of 30 and coming off an injury that cost him all but four games in 2024. You’d be hard pressed to argue he’s going to solve the team’s center need for 2025, let alone the next couple of seasons.

But as a potential stopgap starter at best and competition for Ryan Neuzil at worst, Andrews offers considerable appeal. His run blocking is still quite good and he has a track record of being a better option in pass protection than either Drew Dalman or Neuzil, even if there has been slippage there. His experience and leadership skills, often vaunted by Patriots coaches and beat writers alike, would be welcome for this offense. And because he’s older and coming off an injury, a short-term pact that costs less than his usual standard seems within reach.

If the team doesn’t want to commit to a multi-year solution at center and don’t like this draft class at the position, Andrews makes a lot of sense. I will note that I wasn’t aware that he had failed a physical a short time ago; he may not be good to go for a bit and that does add risk to this signing.

TE Eric Saubert​

The Falcons have a third tight end vacancy Nikola Kalinic may or may not be able to fill. Why not turn to an old friend to add competition?

Saubert was originally a Falcons draft pick, and he’s bounced around in the meantime while carving out a role as...well, a capable third tight end. He’s a sure-handed if infrequently used target, a capable enough blocker, and a willing special teamer who would be an upgrade over Ross Dwelley, the team’s third option in 2024. Competition with the more receiving-friendly Kalinic would allow the Falcons to potentially keep the loser of the competition as practice squad insurance, too.

WR Keenan Allen​

Coming off arguably the worst season of his career and heading into his age 33 season, Allen isn’t enjoying the same robust market he commanded last offseason. If there’s a chance to get him signed to a two-year pact with some creative structuring to limit the 2025 damage, Allen would add an established high-end route runner with significant slot experience (he played about 55% of snaps there for the Bears last year and over 60% in 2022 and 2021 with the Chargers) to a receiving corps that would attain a new level of dominance for Penix.

Is this a hugely necessary signing with McCloud as a fine #3 option and much bigger needs elsewhere? No. If Allen lingers on the market and the Falcons have a chance to make their offense even more dominant to help mask a lagging defense, should they try? Yes.

WR David Moore​

The Falcons are (depressingly, once again) on a budget, so we need to look at quality budget options. The Falcons could do far worse than Moore to add experienced, well-rounded veteran help to a receiving corps light on that beyond their top three guys.

Basically, Moore would be a smart addition to allow the Falcons to kick Drake London into the slot, where he’s a very dangerous player. He’s never been a particularly prolific receiving option, but as a player who is solid in pass protection and run blocking while producing 351 yards and three touchdowns on 32 catches last year, Moore could split time with Ray-Ray McCloud and work opposite Darnell Mooney when the Falcons want London in the slot. He’s also a capable special teamer who has some punt return experience, allowing him to fill a few different niches.

WR Brandon Powell​

Powell isn’t much of a kick returner—we remember his tenure in Atlanta in that regard—but he is a rock solid punt returner with enough speed to occasionally do fun things on offense. If you hadn’t gathered by this list, my concern with the Falcons’ receiving corps is all about what happens if a starter gets injured and the Falcons have to lean on their inexperienced depth; signing someone like Powell helps less than Allen or Moore but does give the team a proven returner who can chip in on offense.

The next one is conditional on the Falcons trading Kirk Cousins, of course.

QB Teddy Bridgewater​

I’m an avowed Bridgewater fan. He doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he’s always been an accurate, smart passer who does a nice job of avoiding major mistakes. His best years are behind him, but Bridgewater is hoping to mount something of a comeback, and having him as a veteran mentor for Michael Penix and capable steward of a weapon-dense offense should something happen makes a ton of sense in an otherwise pretty barren free agency backup market. If Cousins is moved sooner than later, I’d like to see the Falcons at least entertain bringing him in.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...e-second-wave-of-free-agency-garrett-bradbury

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Defensive players the Falcons should pursue in the second wave of free agency

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

From role players up front to potential starters in the secondary, the Falcons have options to improve a lackluster roster.

The reaction to the offensive edition of this article yesterday made it clear to me that defense is where many Atlanta Falcons fans want to see all remaining dollars and draft picks spent, and it’s difficult to quibble with that. As promised, let’s talk defense.

While the pickings are a little slim already after most of the big names were snapped up early, the Falcons still can get legitimate starters and helpful role players with any money they free up. That’s particularly true in the secondary, where the Falcons could add a nickel cornerback and starting safety today to give themselves more flexibility heading into the 2025 NFL Draft and make us all feel a lot better about what they’re about to put on the field this coming season.

Here are a few names that make sense for the team.

DL Jonathan Bullard​

For a run defense that is setting up to be pretty shaky, Bullard is a sensible signing. The one-time Falcon—he was a 2021 signing—provides sure tackling and good instincts against the run, making him a potential fit to round out Atlanta’s rotation up front. The fact that he’s durable, with 34 games and 29 starts over the past two seasons for Minnesota, would make him a solid early down snap eater while this team brings a young line along.

He’s far from a difference maker, but he should come at a fair price point and provide insurance for injury or a lack of desired development from the team’s young options up front. That’s enough to give him a real look.

DL Calais Campbell​

In a thin market, the ageless wonder remains a worthwhile player. At the age of 38, Campbell put up five sacks a year ago and managed five pass deflections, playing at a customarily high level as a rotational option. At some point he’ll choose retirement, but until then, I’m not willing to bet against Campbell being the kind of player who can help any line in the league. Swapping out David Onyemata for Campbell and/or simply adding him to this group would give the Falcons needed help.

DL John Cominsky​

A homecoming of sorts. Cominsky was moved around the lineup and lightly used in Atlanta to begin his career, but he carved out a nice niche for himself in Detroit as a reliable run stopper who could generate pressure. He missed the 2024 season with an injury and would need to be healthy, but Cominsky’s well-rounded skill set and versatility—he played all over Detroit’s line in 2022 and 2023—would make him an addition with some actual upside for Atlanta.

DL Mike Pennel​

He can play nose tackle and is a better fit for that role than Kentavius Street, who emerged as the team’s option of choice down the stretch, and is a much better run stuffer than he showed during his last stint in Atlanta back in 2021. This would be about filling a niche vacated with Eddie Goldman out of the picture, something the Falcons still need to do even if it’s profoundly unexciting.

EDGE Za’Darius Smith​

One of the few high-end pass rushers left on the open market, Smith isn’t likely to be in Atlanta’s price range but would offer Atlanta needed boost. He had nine sacks a year ago for Cleveland and Detroit and like Leonard Floyd, offers reliable pressure with the specter of age leading to injury or decline.

A Smith/Floyd/Arnold Ebiketie trio with Bralen Trice and possibly a rookie would be the highest-upside group the Falcons have had in some time, and while it’s unlikely they’ll get it done, it’s fun to dream.

EDGE Tyus Bowser​

Health is the primary concern for Bowser, and it may be that owing to injuries, he’ll never be the seven sack, 40 pressure player he was in 2021 for Baltimore. When he’s on the field, Bowser is still a useful situational pass rushing threat who does enough against the run to avoid being one-dimensional. As a replacement for the likes of James Smith-Williams and Lorenzo Carter, he’d offer more pressure potential with the same kind of concerns about durability.

LB/S Isaiah Simmons​

Simmons is coming off a rough season that will likely ensure his market is fairly muted, but his versatility makes him an interesting potential flier.

Simmons has routinely graded out well in coverage before last season, and his experience working at safety and linebacker would make him a potential fit as a combined fourth safety—the Falcons need to determine who S2/S3 is, likely via the draft—and fifth inside linebacker option. The fact that he’s a willing special teamer and not a massive liability as a run defender means he’s about as useful of a back-of-the-roster piece as you can get, though the past two seasons of adventures in tackling will not endear him to fans tired of that particular adventure. That assumes he’s not able to find a larger role elsewhere, naturally.

CB Ahkello Witherspoon​

One more time. Witherspoon may not be guaranteed a starting job, but he’s an experienced, quality cornerback who has worked with Raheem Morris in the past and would be able to step in outside should something happen to AJ Terrell or Mike Hughes. The Falcons currently lack an experienced cornerback capable of doing that—I’m confident Clark Phillips can, but again, he’s not that experienced—and Witherspoon is likely their best veteran option who can do so.

Witherspoon is not as necessary if the Falcons plan to draft a cornerback early, giving them a young reserve group with some real upside when you include Phillips and Natrone Brooks. If that’s not a lock, I hope they’ll take a hard look here.

CB Troy Hill​

Hill is a logical choice for the Falcons for a few reasons.

The first is that he’s a familiar face, someone the Falcons have seen often from his time with the Panthers, and he overlapped with Raheem Morris with the Rams back in 2022. The second is that he’s worked primarily out of the slot for a long while now, and the team does not have a clear-cut plan for their nickel cornerback at the moment. The third is that despite his age, Hill has remained a solid tackler and coverage option throughout his career, and those are the two biggest problems Atlanta had in their secondary a year ago.

Signing Hill would give the Falcons favorite to start at nickel on day one, but not someone they’d feel compelled to start if they ended up liking Natrone Brooks or Clark Phillips more there. If the team is looking for an upgrade on Dee Alford in the specific areas in which Alford struggled, Hill is a logical choice.

CB Avonte Maddox​

Another budget nickel cornerback option, Maddox occasionally mixed in at safety for the Eagles and was a rock solid option in coverage and as a tackler last year, and over his time with Philadelphia, has been one of the more reliable inside options at corner in the league.

The last couple years have seen him playing more sparingly and not quite as well as he did during his best years in 2021 and 2022, but like Hill, Maddox is good enough at the things the Falcons struggled at in the secondary to be well worth pursuing as an Alford replacement.

S Chuck Clark​

Clark has a few items working in his favor. He worked with Jeff Ulbrich last year, he’s a credible coverage option at safety who does stellar work against the run, and he typically is a reliable tackler with good instincts and physicality this Falcons defense is starved for. As a still full-time starter heading into age 30 season, Clark isn’t going to be dirt cheap and likely isn’t necessary if the Falcons plan to spend their first round pick on a top safety, but as a veteran stopgap he’s one of the best available options for Atlanta.

S Julian Blackmon​

Blackmon is the other one I’d consider worth the money, unless you’re willing to reinvest in Justin Simmons as a bounceback candidate. Younger (he’s heading into his age 27 season) and with a track record as a quality starter with real coverage chops, Blackmon would be a signing that would A) eat up most of what the Falcons clear going forward in terms of cap space and B) look to secure the other safety spot next to Jessie Bates for multiple seasons.

So-so run support abilities aside, Blackmon is good enough to create the kind of safety tandem with Bates that we envisioned Bates/Simmons being in 2024. The secondary could use a semi-splashy signing to really lift a group that struggled last season, and it would be difficult to be angry about Blackmon being that player.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...d-wave-of-free-agency-chuck-clark-tyus-bowser

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons set to sign tight end Feleipe Franks

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

No, really.

Feleipe Franks was something of a meme in the Atlanta Falcons fanbase last time he was here. The rangy, athletic quarterback-turned-tight end was a seeming Arthur Smith favorite, but despite a lot of glowing words and development, he rarely saw the field for Atlanta. Last year, the team moved on with the departure of Smith and Franks spent the season in Carolina, where he was a special teams contributor with 10 tackles despite battling penalties along the way. He had gone, over the course of a few rocky seasons, from a “why is he still on the roster?” player to a solid reserve.

That’s not the end of the story for Franks and the Falcons, though, because apparently it’s not just Smith who saw utility for the towering tight end. Per D. Orlando Ledbetter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the team is bringing Franks back, presumably to compete for the third tight end job and a special teams role.

#Falcons set to re-sign tight end Feleipe Franks -- Report: Veteran safety Jordan Fuller also set to sign https://t.co/A8r0GySHD8

— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) March 19, 2025​

While this is hilarious to me because of the near-mythical status Franks achieved here, for reasons good and bad—I almost jokingly put him in my offensive free agent targets piece, but feared a mutiny—it’s not actually a bad summer competition move when you get past the initial shock of it.

Franks showed genuine growth as a blocking tight end the past two seasons with Atlanta and Carolina, was a high-energy contributor on special teams for the Panthers, and would still be an interesting pass catching option if the pieces ever came together for him, though at age 27 I’m not holding my breath for that one. Will he definitely knock off Nikola Kalinic for the third end job, or prevent the team from adding more pieces to the position group? No. Will he be a fine practice squad candidate if he doesn’t make the roster outright, and will his special teams value make him a decent enough third option if he does? Maybe. We’ll see!

Anyways, welcome Franks back to Atlanta, and we’ll hope his second chapter with the Falcons ends up being an unexpectedly great one. The legend can only grow, surely.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...e-franks-wait-what-nikola-kalinic-free-agency

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Center prospects the Falcons could target in the 2025 NFL Draft

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

The team needs to replace Drew Dalman. If they’re looking to the draft, these prospects could do the trick.

A position that was unstable not too long ago has once again become a need for the Atlanta Falcons with the departure of Drew Dalman.

Ryan Neuzil filled in valiantly in 2024, but he wasn’t good enough at his job to be considered irreplaceable. The team giving him the lowest tender possible is proof of that. If Atlanta has the opportunity to upgrade on him, they should.

Cutting corners on the offensive line is never a good strategy, and the Falcons need to set Michael Penix up right heading into his first year as a full-time starter. Terry Fontenot has elected to bypass the upgrade options via free agency—a move I agree with if the Falcons can find a long-term option in the draft.

Historically, centers don’t cost a lot of draft capital. Dalman was a fourth-round pick, and I believe the team can find another Dalman in this draft. They could also spend a premium on a couple of prospects that could take this line to heights Dalman never could.

Thomas Perry, Middlebury (Late Day 3)​

Your local draft junkies’ favorite center prospect. Perry played DIII football but has D1 play strength.

The left guard turned center prospect has been preparing for the draft with OL guru Duke Manyweather. Manyweather has been boasting about Perry’s strength, and I saw it firsthand at the East-West Shrine Bowl as he stonewalled Georgia Bulldogs in pass rush drills. Off the field, Perry’s weightlifting reputation is legendary; he’s known as “The Tank” in the gym, he studies molecular biology and mathematics, and he comes from a family of decorated Ivy League athletes and intellectuals. It’s the dream background profile from Madden 2006’s Superstar Mode.

Been cool to see the quick improvement from D3 Middlebury IOL Thomas Perry. Has stacked better reps each day. Only started training for center about a month ago. Impressive flexibility, strong core, good grip strength

Got a “Good shit, Middlebury!” from the DL after this pic.twitter.com/bIZtC2BlYW

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 27, 2025​

The talent level he faced and his adjustment to the league’s speed are concerns. Still, with the nod of approval from a respected member of the OL community (Manyweather is selective with his clients) and his strong showing at the all-star event, fans shouldn’t be overly concerned.

Quinn Meinerz—who the Falcons passed on in favor of Jaylen Mayfield—is a recent example of a DIII football player overcoming the talent level talk, and Perry looks like the next in line.

Drew Kendall, Boston College (Day 3)​

Kendall would bore the heck out of Arthur Smith. Nothing about Kendall’s game jumped out at me, but that works both ways. He’s a consistent player who rarely makes mistakes. His feet are his greatest asset, making him an ideal candidate for the Falcons zone-based run scheme.

He doesn’t have much power, but he shows a good understanding of leverage and blocking angles and has enough athleticism to run pulling concepts. He’s a high IQ player who’s always in position, and that’s the baseline for a quality NFL starting center.

Like Dalman, Kendall is a little underweight, and his shorter arms make it easier for his opponents to attack him in pass protection. However, playing next to Chris Lindstrom helps, and the 23-year-old might need a year to get stronger like Dalman did. As it stands, Kendall could push Neuzil for the job and start establishing that chemistry with Penix and the veteran line early.

Jonah Monheim, University of Southern California (Early Day 3)​

Monheim is my favorite option among the Day 3 projected prospects. He offers positional versatility (starts at RT, LT, and RG) and would immediately be the best pass-protecting center on the team. Monheim kicked inside this year after being a career tackle, a move other prospects will attempt to make in their rookie seasons. This move boosted Monheim’s stock and saved teams’ time.

USC C Jonah Monheim looked really good on day 1 of the Senior Bowl. You can see that elite movement on display. pic.twitter.com/oQzUY2P9db

— Sanjit T. (@Sanjit__T) January 28, 2025​

Monheim’s anchor is impressive for an interior player and would keep Penix nice and comfortable in the pocket. He isn’t an exceptional run blocker, but he has the feet and movement skills to succeed in a zone-based scheme.

He’ll need to become a more efficient blocker and refine his angles, but with tutelage from Dwanye Ledford, I’m confident Monheim could get to a high enough level as a rookie to win the job and never look back.

Jared Wilson, University of Georgia (Late Day 2)​

Wilson has been riding a high since the NFL Combine, where he posted the fifth-fastest 40 time by an OL since 2003. Wilson might have the RAS score of a first-rounder, but he doesn’t have the tape. Wislon’s inexperience occasionally shows up on film, but the athletic flashes are there. He can boogie in space, easily climbing to the second level and washing out linebackers. He can look dominant when he wins the leverage battle, and what he offers as a run blocker feels limitless.

He isn’t the most consistent in pass protection, but this was also his first year as a starter, so developing better technique will come with time and reps. He does have a good anchor to work with, and because he’s so green, the ceiling shouldn’t be close to tapped. Had Wilson stayed another year, he may have been a first-round lock; that’s how special he is as an athlete.

Wilson is projected to go later on Day 2, where it’s rare to find athletes like him. The Falcons had multiple staff members in attendance at Geogia’s pro day, and they likely kept tabs on Wilson from the moment he walked into the facility.

Grey Zabel, North Dakota State (Day 1 - Early Day 2)​

Zabel was a tackle for the Bison, but at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, he took snaps at center and guard and dominated the competition. Zabel is the most pro-ready offensive lineman on this list, and he could give a team solid reps at any position, but the interior is where he will shine. Zabel is a technically sound player who blocks through the whistle. He is a fantastic fit for the Falcons scheme and would allow them to sprinkle in more duo and power concepts.

North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel was spectacular yesterday. Not only did he dominate 1:1s, but he was climbing, finding work, and driving through the whistle well in teams as well. pic.twitter.com/j8tWGAi4tI

— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) January 29, 2025​

His strong first step allows him to pack a punch and get to the second level in a hurry. The lack of length shows up on film, but that’s also because he’s a tackle facing longer opponents, which won’t be as big of an issue once he’s playing inside. Zabel offers the team security at guard moving forward as well if Bergeron can’t take the next step or elects to leave after his rookie deal is up.

Fans may have trauma from the Mayfield experience, but these prospects are in no way alike. Zabel has more experience and technical refinement as a prospect. He would also be the second NDSU OT in the last few years to make this move. Cody Mauch had an impressive Senior Bowl performance, and the Buccaneers cashed in on it. Atlanta could look to do the same.

Marcus Mbow, Purdue (Day 1)​

This is where things could get interesting. Mbow is one of the most fascinating prospects in this draft class. He’s undersized as a tackle, but his movement skills are so elite that some scouts still believe he can work there. I saw Mbow take snaps inside at the Senior Bowl. I didn’t get the sense he had the necessary strength to play guard, but center is a different story.

Mbow would be the best athlete on the line if drafted today; there isn’t an angle he can’t make as a run blocker. He already has a solid anchor and often beats pass rushers to the spot. His hands are always active, and he delivers a good initial punch. He needs to improve his pad level, and his technique can be sloppy at times overall. He isn’t the strongest player right now, but he’s also a true junior who will turn 22 in the summer, so he will continue to add muscle. Mbow feels like a move that would come out of nowhere, and that’s the Falcons specialty.

Games are won and lost in the trenches, and if there is a deficiency in its construction, teams will take advantage of it. Interior pressure causes a unique challenge to Penix, specifically because it forces him to roll out instead of step up when facing outside pressure. Penix’s on-the-move throwing has been a weakness in his game dating back to the University of Washington.

If the Falcons want to give him the best chance at success, they’ll need to ensure that the interior line is humming. Otherwise, they could ruin their next potential franchise quarterback before he can develop.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...nfl-draft-grey-zabel-marcus-mbow-jared-wilson

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons to sign returner Jamal Agnew

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The team’s Avery Williams replacement has arrived.

The Atlanta Falcons keep plugging away at plugging holes in their roster, this time signing former All-Pro returner Jamal Agnew to a one-year pact. The news comes to us from insider Mike Garafolo, who reports it could be worth up to $2.5 million if Agnew hits incentives we’ll likely learn about later.

Agnew will slot right in to replace Avery Williams, who the team let test free agency and who wound up with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The #Falcons have agreed to terms with former #Jaguars WR/returner Jamal Agnew on a one-year deal worth a max of $2.5 million, source says. Agnew was on the #Steelers’ practice squad last year as he recovered from a broken leg suffered late in 2023. Now fully healthy for Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/jAIyv8fra8

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 20, 2025​

It’s a smart signing with some risk. Agnew misses a handful of games every season—he has never appeared in a full 16 or 17 games—but last year was more or less wiped out by a broken leg in 2023. If he’s fully healthy, as Garafolo indicates, he gives the Falcons an established threat as a returner who can fill a small role as a speedy receiving threat.

In 2023, Agnew posted 10.3 yards per punt return, a full yard better than Williams managed a year ago. He’s also averaged over 26 yards per kick return in each of his last two full seasons, a mark that slightly bests Ray-Ray McCloud’s 25.8 in 2024 but falls short of Williams’ 27-plus last year. Basically, he’s a likely upgrade on the diminished version of Williams we saw as a punt returner, and in line with what Williams and McCloud offered as kick returners. Assuming good health, that’s a necessary piece of the special teams puzzle for Atlanta.

As a receiver, he has 77 career catches for 746 yards and five touchdowns, including 14 grabs for 225 yards and a score for Jacksonville in 2023. If he can return to his typically high end form as a returner and chip in as WR 5/6 and handle a couple of carries as a gadget player, he’ll offer value for the Falcons, and I don’t think that’s an unreasonable expectation. Just don’t expect to see him in all 17 games.

Give Agnew a warm welcome to Atlanta, if you would.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...y-mccloud-avery-williams-nfl-free-agency-2025

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons 2025 mock draft: Filling needs after free agency and a trade

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The first wave of free agency is over, and Kevin Knight is here to bring you an updated 7-round mock draft (with a trade!) for the Falcons. Would Atlanta consider a trade down from 15, and who might be left on the board for them in the 20s?

The first week of NFL free agency is behind us. Did the Atlanta Falcons actually improve in the process? That’s a bit of an open question. Atlanta did add a number of veterans to the roster that solidified a few positions, while losing their fair share of contributors in the process—most notably, center Drew Dalman and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.

Now that we’ve seen the first round of additions and subtractions, it’s the perfect opportunity to do another full seven-round mock draft for the Falcons. In this mock, I will consider trades for the first time as well. It’s a bit easier to project now that we’ve seen where the biggest dominoes have fallen, and it’s also something that Atlanta is very likely to consider due to their lack of draft capital.

Before we jump in to the mock, let’s take a look at the Falcons’ current haul of draft picks. Now that the compensatory picks have officially been awarded, this should be the final placement for these picks.

What are the Falcons current 2025 NFL Draft picks?​

• Round 1, Pick 15
• Round 2, Pick 46
• Round 4, Pick 116
• Round 7, Pick 218 (from Chargers)
• Round 7, Pick 242 (from Rams)

This is the written version, but you can also find the mock draft in two alternate forms as well. On our YouTube channel:

The mock is also available on all your favorite podcast platforms! You can listen to it directly here:

Previous mock drafts: First edition | Post-Combine | Post-Free Agency

TRADE — Round 1, Pick 22: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

Falcons trade pick 15 and pick 242 (7th) to the Chargers for picks 22, 86 (3rd), and 125 (4th).

The simple truth is that the Falcons need picks, and they need them badly. This draft has a lot of depth in the middle rounds that Atlanta desperately needs for the long haul. That leads me to believe the team will be trying very hard to trade down, and would be willing to take slightly below market value to help facilitate it. The Chargers are in dire need of another top receiver and face a dicey situation between picks 15 and 22. These receivers could go quick, and if Los Angeles has a clear favorite, jumping up with Atlanta could make a lot of sense for both sides. So Atlanta accepts a third and a fourth to move down to 22.

Luckily, this class is deep in the positions of need for Atlanta: defensive line and defensive back. Malaki Starks wound up going at pick 21, so the Falcons pivot to one of my favorite edge rushers on the board: Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton. All the hype is currently on Shemar Stewart thanks to his ludicrous athletic testing, but Scourton is the better player right now. If not for a down year playing 20 pounds too heavy in 2024, Scourton might still be talked about as a top-20 pick.

Scourton’s 2023 season at Purdue showed off who he really is: an experienced pass rusher with a deep bag of moves and a great feel for the position. I think he’s a good athlete when playing at his more natural weight of 260, and that’s where I’d keep him. Scourton isn’t the biggest or longest (6’3, 33” arms), but his rush repertoire mitigates those concerns. I’d like to see Scourton become a more consistent run defender, but I think he’s a much better pass rusher than the consensus believes and a good value here at 22.

Round 2, Pick 46: SAF Xavier Watts, Notre Dame

While Atlanta missed out on Malaki Starks in the first round, they get the next best prospect in Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts. Watts turned in an elite 2024 season which saw him post six interceptions, five PBUs, and a ridiculous 30.1 passer rating allowed in coverage. Watts checks the size boxes for an NFL safety at nearly 6’ and over 200 pounds, and he’s got solid length as well. He’s an elite coverage player who excels in man when called upon, playing nearly 400 snaps in the slot over the past two seasons.

Watts is a ballhawk above all else, as his numbers attest. He’s an elite processor with high-level instincts who is always finding a way into the action. His tackling was problematic in past seasons, but he did look a lot better in run support this year. Watts’ aggressiveness can sometimes get him into trouble, leading to some “boom or bust” moments on the field. Even still, he’s trending in the right direction and put in a lot of effort to improve his biggest weakness (tackling) in 2024. I love his trajectory and think he could end up being an excellent long-term partner for Jessie Bates.

Round 3, Pick 86: C Jared Wilson, Georgia

Pick acquired from Chargers.

With the Falcons losing Drew Dalman in free agency, the center position has suddenly become an issue. The team seems pretty comfortable with former UDFA Ryan Neuzil taking over, but that doesn’t feel like a long-term solution. Thanks to the trade down with the Chargers, Atlanta actually can address the center position with a very popular pick: Georgia’s Jared Wilson.

Wilson was a one-year starter for the Bulldogs who impressed after taking over for the stalwart Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. That season looked like it would be enough to get Wilson drafted on Day 3 thanks to his potential, but a head-turning Combine performance has almost certainly lifted him into Day 2 consideration. Wilson finished with an elite 9.98 RAS and some of the most impressive athletic testing from any offensive lineman in the class. He’s got good size at 6’3, 310 and turned in some elite pass blocking grades on PFF, allowing zero sacks and just six total pressures on 810 snaps.

Wilson isn’t anywhere near the run blocker than Drew Dalman was, and that seems to be his biggest weakness heading into the NFL. He needs to get stronger and continue to gain experience, but Wilson has tremendous potential in a zone blocking scheme thanks to his athleticism. He looks like a perfect fit in Atlanta’s offense and a logical long-term replacement for Dalman who can bring better pass blocking to the table.

Round 4, Pick 118: DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon

The Falcons elect to wait on adding an interior defender, but the wait pays off with one of the most interesting nose tackle prospects in the class: Oregon’s Jamaree Caldwell. A big winner from the Senior Bowl, Caldwell has risen up draft boards thanks to an impressive final season. Caldwell has an ideal build for a nose tackle at 6’2 and over 330, although his length is below threshold at just 32”. I think he’s actually a perfect fit as a 4-3 NT, which I expect to see the Falcons deploy a lot more under Jeff Ulbrich.

Where Caldwell stands out is with his quick feet and initial burst off the line of scrimmage. Along with his run-stuffing prowess, he actually offers disruption as a pass rusher and better-than-expected pursuit ability. Caldwell managed an impressive 9.3% pass rush win rate and batted down four passes. His length limitations do put a cap on his ceiling, but I think Caldwell can be an effective rotational player for an NFL defense who’s more than just a space eater.

Round 4, Pick 125: CB Alijah Huzzie, North Carolina

Pick acquired from Chargers.

The Falcons still haven’t addressed their slot vacancy in free agency, and that’s a little concerning to me. Either they believe fully in Natrone Brooks (who I like!), or they’re hoping to find someone in the NFL Draft. There are number of good slot players in this class, on Day 3 I like what I’ve seen from North Carolina’s Alijah Huzzie.

Huzzie impressed at the Shrine Bowl, more than holding his own against a tough group of receivers. While he played the 2024 season on the outside, he started all of 2023 in the slot and put together some great tape there. Huzzie is undersized at 5’10, 193 and with under 30” arms, there’s no denying that. But he’s a feisty player who doesn’t shy away from contact, and could carve out a role as a slot defender in the NFL. Huzzie is a ballhawk (11 PBUs and 1 INT in 2024, 3 INT in 2023, and 6 INT in 2022) and is a dangerous player in both man and zone coverage. I think he’d be a great add to the slot competition in 2025.

Round 7, Pick 218: OT Hollin Pierce, Rutgers

Pick acquired from Chargers.

As of now, the Falcons still haven’t extended Kaleb McGary. That’s one of the team’s best avenues for salary cap space in 2025. It’s too early to think much of it, but at the very least it probably signals some long-term uneasiness with McGary’s ability to protect Michael Penix’s blindside. While McGary has made strides to becoming an average pass protector over the past two seasons, he’s still just that. Atlanta seems to be pivoting to a focus on the passing game, so moving on from McGary might be a future consideration.

In that case, the Falcons need to load up on developmental tackles in the hopes of unearthing a starter over the next season or two. Rutgers’ Hollin Pierce is one of the most interesting in the class. An absolute mountain at 6’8, 344 an with 36” (!!) arms, he’s one of the largest players in the class...period. He actually moves fairly well for his size and performed well in zone blocking concepts, but he’s got a lot of room for growth. Pierce did improve significantly in his final season and looks the part of a perfect late round stash for the Falcons who just might pay off in a few years.

What do you think about this potential draft class for the Falcons? Leave your draft takes in the comments below!

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...agency-nic-scourton-xavier-watts-jared-wilson

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Did the Falcons improve in free agency? ft. Tre’Shon Diaz: The Falcoholic Live, Ep320

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

The Falcons had a quiet start to free agency, saying goodbye to two starters while adding a few veterans in the process. Kevin Knight and Tre’Shon Diaz discuss the moves and attempt to answer the critical question: did Atlanta actually improve in free agency?

The Atlanta Falcons had a quiet start to free agency, saying goodbye to two starters while adding a few veterans in the process. Kevin Knight and Tre’Shon Diaz discuss the moves and attempt to answer the critical question: did Atlanta actually improve in free agency? Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of The Falcoholic Live!

Watch the stream below or on YouTube beginning at 8 PM ET​

You can also listen to all of our video shows in an audio-only podcast format, available on all your favorite podcast platforms or by using the player below. The podcast typically posts a few hours after the live show records.

If you’re interested in supporting the show, become a Channel Member or check out our Patreon page to unlock access to exclusive perks including Patron Q&A sessions, Discord perks, live shout-outs and more!

Be sure to check out the new community Discord server here! Come chat with your fellow Falcons fans about the show, the team, the NFL draft, and more.

You can watch the show here on The Falcoholic, but we recommend watching on YouTube for the best experience—including full 1080p HD video and access to the live Q&A in the chat. You can also access the show using your smart TV or device using the YouTube app for the real big-screen experience!

We hope you enjoy the show! If you have comments, we’d love to hear them. Send them to us on Twitter (@FalcoholicLive), leave them below, or e-mail the show at [email protected].

Thanks for watching!

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...025-ft-treshon-diaz-the-falcoholic-live-ep320

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Kirk Cousins to appear on new season of Netflix’s ‘Quarterback’

Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

This should be interesting.

You’ve probably been waiting for news about Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and we have some for you today, although it’s likely not the news you were hoping for (yet).

It’s been announced that Kirk Cousins, along with Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, will appear in season 2 of Netflix’s popular series, “Quarterback.”

Coming to Netflix this July pic.twitter.com/KFrq3uasrV

— Netflix (@netflix) March 19, 2025​

If you’re unfamiliar with the series, it essentially gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at three NFL quarterbacks on and off the field. Season 1, which debuted in 2023 and covered the 2022 NFL season followed around Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, then Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, and at the time, Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota. What made that season interesting for Falcons fans is it gave us some extra context on the situation with Mariota as he was eventually benched for Desmond Ridder.

What will be interesting for Falcons fans is we are again facing a similar situation. The season will cover Kirk Cousins debut in Atlanta, after signing a hefty four-year, $180 million contract, his injuries perhaps, and his eventual benching in favor of rookie quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. — a remarkably similar storyline to Mariota’s last season.

As of posting, there is no official release date given — just that it will debut in July 2025.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...off-atlanta-falcons-free-agency-michael-penix

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons sign free agent safety Jordan Fuller

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Atlanta adds a starter opposite Jessie Bates, one familiar to Raheem Morris.

The Atlanta Falcons have signed free agent safety Jordan Fuller, a former Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams starter who played for Raheem Morris from 2021-2023, and he should be expected to start for the team in 2025. That’s a major signing for a team that had a perilously thin safety group coming into today.

The news comes to us from insider Tom Pelissero. We’ll see what the terms are soon enough.

Veteran safety Jordan Fuller is signing with the #Falcons, per source.

Still only 27, Fuller has 55 career starts over five seasons with the #Rams and #Panthers. Now he reunites with his old L.A. DC Raheem Morris in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/6xxLC4GY7B

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2025​

Fuller did not make my list of defensive free agents this morning, to my now eternal regret, but this is a quality signing with some caveats. Fuller is a consistent force for good against the run and has been through his entire career, as well as a sound tackler, which will be welcome for a Falcons team that needs that consistency. In his years with the Rams, Fuller was also a capable if far from excellent option in coverage, so last year’s shakier effort in Carolina stands out as something of an outlier.

Another note on the nine games piece: Fuller has two full seasons as a starter in the past four years, and has missed 22 games between 2022 and 2024. That’s not to say that injury is inevitable for the still-young safety, but it’s probably the only real note of caution for a player who otherwise should step in as a perfectly capable starter. The fact that he was a much better player in Morris’s Rams defense than he was last year in a decrepit Carolina D should make us hopeful he’ll bounce back from a rougher, injury-marred year.

Fuller’s welcome history of causing turnovers—he had three interceptions and three forced fumbles in 2023’s 17 games under Morris in LA—is another point in his favor.

We’ll see what the terms of the deal are, but the Falcons desperately needed help at safety and an established starter to pair with Jessie Bates, and Fuller provides that. With DeMarcco Hellams now set to be the third safety assuming good health, I feel much better about the position group than I did yesterday, even if the team can and should stock more depth.

Give Fuller a warm welcome to Atlanta, if you would.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2025/...y-jordan-fuller-jessie-bates-demarcco-hellams