Coming into the offseason, the Falcons had several roster needs, but none were bigger than the quarterback position.
It was and is the most popular talking point for Atlanta’s offseason. Several months ago, most fans and analysts believed the Falcons were inclined to move up in the draft to land one of the top three prospects.
However, as the weeks went on, it became clear that the Bears, Commanders, and Patriots wouldn’t be moving off their picks, leaving Terry Fontenot with a choice.
Would he target a veteran to prioritize winning right now, or a stopgap veteran and pair him with one of the other quarterback prospects? There were upsides and downsides to both.
Many fans debated between Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield and Justin Fields. In the end, Atlanta’s top option (out of the realistic possibilities) was Cousins, to whom they were willing to give a massive contract. The Falcons had their guy, but it was far from the only positional need.
Shortly after that announcement, news broke that Atlanta would also be inking Darnell Mooney to a three-year deal, which addressed the second-biggest roster need at receiver. Still, the position needed more than just one capable body, which is why Fontenot acquired Rondale Moore, Ray-Ray McCloud, and KhaDarel Hodge.
The Falcons also signed Charlie Woerner and re-signed Kentavius Street and Storm Norton in the last week or so, adding some much-needed depth to the line of scrimmage. However, the Falcons aren’t done.
The roster is still in need of a couple of additions, particualrly at the cornerback and edge positions. The former is made up of A.J. Terrell, Clark Phillips, Dee Alford, and Mike Hughes. It is a formidable group, but not one a Super Bowl-hopeful team should be satisfied with. If that unit has one injury, the Falcons are in trouble.
Another corner should be a priority, but it’s not as big of a need as a starting-caliber edge. Arnold Ebiketie, Lorenzo Carter, DeAngelo Malone, and Ta’Quon Graham is a bottom-five unit in the league, and it’s arguably the second-most important position in the sport.
The Falcons have to address both of these positions. It shouldn’t be a debate either.
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Photographer: David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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