Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Running Back

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Truthfully, this is going to be among the more boring entries in this series. Running back is one of the areas that I’m pretty comfortable with when it comes to the Falcons. They have a rising young star in Tyler Allgeier and All-Pro Cordarrelle Patterson. Caleb Huntley could have a bounce-back season coming off of an Achilles injury, and Avery Williams was solid at times. The Falcons could afford to potentially add someone in the draft, or even sign a free agent or two. Still, they don’t need to dedicate big money to the position on someone like Josh Jacobs or draft capital on someone like Bijan Robinson. All estimations are via Over The Cap.

If you want to check out my articles from my previous offseason series — One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, and One Trade — those are linked below:

Previous editions of this series are listed below:

Current Rostered Running Backs

RB Tyler Allgeier

RB Cordarrelle Patterson

RB Avery Williams

RB Caleb Huntley

RB Keith Smith

The Falcons have some practice squad guys, but I won’t be including them in these exercises. Allgeier probably will be RB1 going into next season, but we’re splitting hairs here. I’m in favor of keeping Caleb Huntley, even after the injury. The Falcons can manage his workload in 2023, and he’s on a cheap deal. The Falcons could let Keith Smith go in favor of an UDFA or someone like Parker Hesse.

 

Sign Justin Jackson

I’ve always liked Jackson, even when he was coming out of Northwestern. He was a bit buried behind D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams (who I had featured in the 2021 offseason edition of this exercise) in Detroit, so I’d roll the dice on him to come in and compete. Jackson’s only 26 with 248 career carries and averages almost five yards per rush. Running backs usually age like milk, and he should be a cheap guy with low miles the Falcons can work into the rotation.

Jackson signs a one-year, $900k deal

 

Consider some options later in the 2023 Draft

The Falcons have a lot of holes, so naturally, picking a running back early when they have a set running back room is probably unwise. It’s even more foolish when they snagged a gem in the fifth round last year. However, in my Offseason Mock Draft 1.0, I had the Falcons grabbing a fifth round back again:

Round 5, Pick 156 (via Jacksonville): RB Tyjae Spears — Tulane

The last fifth round running back the Falcons took worked out pretty well, so how about adding a little lightning to Allgeier’s thunder? Spears went nuts against USC, rushing for 205 yards on 17 carries with four rushing touchdowns. He is a big play back with exceptional burst, and if he can develop as a weapon in the passing game, the Falcons will have another gem in the fifth round.

Kenny McIntosh, Devon Achane, Sean Tucker, Tank Bigsby, Zach Evans, and Zach Charbonnet are other guys I would consider on day two or three. For now, I’ll stick with just Jackson and Huntley.

 

Overhauled Rostered Running Backs

RB Tyler Allgeier

RB Cordarrelle Patterson

RB Justin Jackson 

RB Avery Williams

RB Caleb Huntley

I could see an undrafted free agent making their way onto this list, especially if Huntley starts the season on Injured Reserve. For now, we’ll assume he’s healthy to begin 2023 and the Falcons roll with these five guys.

 

Current Roster: 7

QB Desmond Ridder

QB Taylor Heinicke

RB Tyler Allgeier

RB Cordarrelle Patterson

RB Justin Jackson 

RB Avery Williams

RB Caleb Huntley

 

Draft Picks Remaining:
  • Round 1, Pick 8
  • Round 2, Pick 45
  • Round 3, Pick 76
  • Round 4, Pick 110 (from TEN)
  • Round 4, Pick 113
  • Round 5, Pick 155 (from JAX)
  • Round 6, Pick 182
  • Round 7, Pick 226 (from LV)
  • Round 7, Pick 249 (from BUF)
2023 Cap Space Allotted: -$5.1 million

Quarterback: -$6 million

Running Back: $900k

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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire

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