The 2022 season has just ended, and as of March 13, the 2023 campaign will open its doors. DNA of Sports therefore takes the opportunity to offer you an overview of the different franchises during the off-season. Which players to keep and cut? Which free agent to extend? Which rookies to watch? Here are some ideas, franchise by franchise. In the spotlight today, the Atlanta Falcons.
Cleaning up the roster will have taken two seasons under the new Terry Fontenot – Arthur Smith regime. No particular collapse. Two years in a row with seven wins and ten losses, against a backdrop of announced transition and the gradual ousting of large local contracts (Julio Jones, Matt Ryan, Deion Jones).
This degreasing operation was carried out with a view to this off-season 2023, an off-season supposed to finally give free rein financially to the front office, with at least 50 million dollars in the pocket to effectively renew the roster. A good thing in itself, because the lack of references and stars in certain positions is still glaring and the Georgian franchise will have to invest effectively in view of the many needs.
The owners
1. Chris Lindstrom (OL)
2. Grady Jarrett (DT)
3. Jake Matthews (OT)
In a roster in clear reconstruction, the innkeepers are not that numerous. Beyond the young offensive trio Tyler Allgeier-Drake London-Kyle Pitts, on which the franchise has high hopes, the leadership remains assured by three emblematic men. AJ Terrell didn’t celebrate as much as usual in 2022, including zero interceptions on the clock, but the former Clemson was not helped by a depopulated backfield and young pairs who were more often targeted than him.
From a leadership perspective, the trenches still have valiant mouthpieces. On the defensive line, although still lonely, Grady Jarrett finished best sackeur of his in 2022, with six achievements. As for the offensive line, it was a real satisfaction last year, Jake Matthews justifying his recent extension for 55 million dollars with a real domination on the ground game in particular, as well as a Chris Lindstrom quietly trying to become a reference on his guard position.
Jake Matthews and teammate Chris Lindstrom have clearly solidified Georgia’s offensive line in 2022.
The unwanted
Marcus Mariota
As mentioned earlier, the skimming of the last few months allows Atlanta to have fewer constraints than other teams this offseason. The only real problem should concern the Marcus Mariota case. Relaunched in 2022, with his knowledge of Arthur Smith’s offensive system and his ability to be a mobile threat, the former Titans has gradually plunged during the season, becoming a real deadweight for the Georgian franchise.
Its cut would represent an additional saving of 12 million dollars. Not negligible therefore. The case of Casey Hayward is also important to follow. The cornerback has 3 defended passes and one interception in just 6 games this season, but with an injury at 33, and a contract worth $7 million in 2023, his leadership may not be enough to convince Fontenot to keep it.
The summer man
Desmond Ridder (QB)
Launched (too?) late in 2022, given the difficulties demonstrated by Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder has turned his back at an unenviable end of the calendar to give himself a chance to believe in a starting position next season. If his statistics were not breathtaking in the last four outings of last season, the former Cincinnati was able to limit ball losses and improve the good work of his ground game to ensure Atlanta a record of two victories and two defeats under his thumb.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Falcons turned to a veteran quarterback to coach him in 2023 (Ryan Tannehill, who knows Arthur Smith so well?) and effectively shielded all other positions to see his full season potential. But like last year, Ridder will certainly remain the main attraction of the coming season, and will have to develop a complementarity with London and Pitts that Mariota has exploited too little.
The main free agents
1. Kaleb McGary (OT)
2. Rashaan Evans (LB)
3. Olamide Zaccheus (WR)
4. Elijah Wilkinson (OL)
5.Lorenzo Carter (EDGE)
Others : Damiere Byrd (WR), MyCole Pruitt (TE), Abdullah Anderson (DL), Isaiah Oliver (CB), Erik Harris (S).
Apart from Lorenzo Carter, the main free agents of the summer have serious arguments for staying, thanks to the good performance seen in 2022 and their return will depend above all on the price, especially for a Kaleb McGary not always at the party since his draft but clearly in unison with the rest of the line over the last campaign. Wilkinson has also been a precious Swiss army knife, given the eternal absence of Jalen Mayfield. As for the secondary, Isaiah Oliver again confirmed his contribution to the nickelback position but also remained a real time bomb, from a nursing point of view.
Top 5 Needs
1. Edge rusher
2. Defensive line
3. Linebacker
4. Receiver
5. Quarterback
If Arthur Smith seems to have found solutions to make his offensive line intimidating, the mistakes remain on the first defensive curtain, and investments are expected with the change of coordinator, and the arrival of the former co-coordinator of the Saints, Ryan Nielsen. On the inside and on the outside, Atlanta must find more impact and depth to avoid perpetually exposing the defensive backfield.
In the same logic, the position of linebacker lacks a real benchmark, because it is made up of jacks of all trades but not really an established control tower. In attack, apart from a mentor to support Desmond Ridder, a third, probably more vertical target must be found to complement Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
DaRon Payne, a shot to try to boost the first defensive curtain?
Target
DaRon Payne (DT, Commanders)
In a market for nose tackles that promises to be fiery, it would be surprising not to see Atlanta positioning itself on an elite player and an interior threat on the pass rush to effectively support Grady Jarrett. With Javon Hargrave (11 sacks), DaRon Payne is the free agent who was extremely productive in this area in 2022 (11 and a half sacks) and clearly seems to have reached the end of his adventure on the side of the federal capital.
A dual-team magnet, his profile can fit into quite a few patterns and the defender has the advantage of knowing Falcons defensive assistant Nick Perry from their shared past in Alabama in 2017. Given the countless needs Georgians, the price to pay will be a decisive element, but a phone call will necessarily be made…
The new blood
Tyree Wilson (EDGE)
It’s starting to feel like an eternity. We must indeed go back to 2016 to see a Falcons player cross the bar of 10 sacks (Vic Beasley at the time, with 15 and a half). Since then, Atlanta has resumed a very sad habit that has persisted since the departure of the emblematic John Abraham. Drafted in the second round in 2022, Arnold Ebiketie demonstrated that he was an intriguing project last year, although too often confined to a pure rusher role.
This season, the franchise needs help on the outside, and the profile of Tyree Wilson has something to please the local front office. Powerful and aggressive in contact, the Texas Tech gem showed up late in college but has assets that could clearly make the Georgian front four more physical, like what Arthur Smith experienced in Tennessee with Denico Autry or what Ryan Nielsen experienced in New Orleans with Cam Jordan. Will he necessarily be present in the eighth choice of the next draft? Nothing is less sure. But it will not be surprising to see him in an interview with Terry Fontenot in the near future.
Other choices: Lukas Van Ness (EDGE), Henry To’oto’o (LB), Jon Michael Schmitz (C), Brian Branch (S).
