Showing posts with label Atlanta Falcons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atlanta Falcons. Show all posts

Sunday, August 24, 2025

EDSFootball.com Updates for August 24, 2025

Earlier today, we updated fantasy football projections for a couple of teams and posted a new fantasy football mock draft on EDSFootball.com.

2025 Fantasy Football Projections

Projected fantasy points are based on half-PPR scoring.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

Atlanta Falcons 2025 Fantasy Football Projections

Our 2025 fantasy football projections below are for the Atlanta Falcons.

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QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Michael Penix Jr.535342.4395922.214.9843.21622.16246.36
Kirk Cousins34.122.8248.91.530.853.610.80.2116.72
QB Totals569.1365.24207.923.7315.8346.8172.82.37263.08

Michael Penix Jr.: Drafting Penix eighth overall only a month after signing Kirk Cousins to a massive 2024 free-agent deal was a head-scratcher (because of the investment already made in Cousins, of course). But Penix showed promise in his brief stint as a starter over the final three weeks including a three-TD performance in the finale, and a full offseason with a singular focus on getting ready as the starter could boost his chances for a 2025 breakout.

MORE: Continue reading our Atlanta Falcons 2025 Fantasy Football Projections


Tennessee Titans 2025 Fantasy Football Projections

Our 2025 fantasy football projections below are for the Tennessee Titans.

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QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Cam Ward506.33183594.72012.1558.2261.92.18238.76
Brandon Allen32.319.4222.91.230.876.713.40.1314.22
QB Totals538.6337.43817.621.2313.0264.9275.32.31252.98

Cam Ward: It's not often that quarterbacks selected first overall in the draft fly under the radar, but that's certainly the case with Ward. It would be reasonable to expect ups and downs, but he has consistently met or exceeded expectations throughout his collegiate career. Ward has the live arm, gunslinger mentality and mobility that could allow him to outperform both his ADP and my current ranking.

MORE: Continue reading our Tennessee Titans 2025 Fantasy Football Projections


2025 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts

The best way to become good at something is to practice. So, what should you do if you want to draft a better fantasy football team?

Practice, of course!

Leading up to the start of the 2025 NFL season, we will use the fantasy football mock draft simulator to complete fantasy football mock drafts. And we will do so using a variety of scoring formats — point per reception (PPR), half-PPR, standard scoring and even 2-QB leagues — and league sizes. The goal is to provide you with a good representation of the team that you may be able to draft given your league settings while also providing the rationale of why we made the picks we did.

That said, nothing beats practicing yourself so (check out the simulator) and complete a mock in a matter of minutes.

2025 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team Half-PPR Mock (1st Pick)

Starting positions: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex (RB/WR/TE), 1 K, 1 DST; Bench spots: 6

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1.01 - Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Especially in a format that starts three receivers (like this one), Chase is the easy click at 1.01. Posting career highs in his age-24 season, Chase led the NFL in receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17) in 2024 to become the fifth triple crown winner since the league merger. Chase had at least five catches and/or 50 yards in all but one game in 2024, but he also had several monster games. There were nine 35-point wide receiver performances league-wide in 2024, and Chase had three (one-third) of them.

2.12 - Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

McConkey finished as a top-12 fantasy wide receiver (the WR16 on per-game basis among those who played at least eight games) in 2024 and he was especially productive from Week 8 on. Over his final 11 games including the team's playoff loss, he racked up 67 catches for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns on 87 targets.

3.01 - Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

After Zack Moss was injured, Brown handled 189 touches (23.6/G) over his final eight games. During that eight-game stretch, Brown was top five in fantasy points (both overall and PPG). Bringing back Samaje Perine, who was a Bengal from 2019-2022, waiting until the sixth round to draft a running back (Tahj Brooks) and releasing Moss all bode well for Brown's grip on a workhorse role and outlook.

MORE: 2025 Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Football Projections

4.12 - DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Smith missed four games in 2024 and while his numbers were down year over year, his per-game averages of 5.2 catches and 64.1 yards were very similar to the averages of his first three seasons (4.8/63.6). Smith finished the year as the WR17 on a per-game basis, and he should continue to be viewed as a mid-tier WR2 in fantasy.

MORE: Continue reading our 2025 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team Half-PPR Mock (1st Pick)

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

EDSFootball.com Updates for August 12, 2025

Earlier today, we updated fantasy football rankings and posted a new fantasy football mock draft on EDSFootball.com.

2025 Fantasy Football Rankings

With NFL training camps and the preseason upon us, I have updated my positional rankings and overall top 200 fantasy football cheat sheet. Leading up to the start of the season, I will make (at least) weekly updates to these rankings.

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More rankings: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | Top 150

2025 Fantasy Football QB Rankings

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Putting aside the debate over who should have won the NFL MVP award last season, it's clear that both Allen and Lamar Jackson had MVP-caliber seasons, especially as voters split their votes for MVP and the 2024 AP NFL All-Pro first team. Going into fantasy drafts this summer, Allen vs. Jackson will be the difficult (or easy) choice facing fantasy managers — and to be clear, the "easy" part is that you can't go wrong with either.

Allen posted five-year lows in several passing categories — attempts (483), yards (3,731) and touchdowns (28) — but his dual-threat skill set is what makes him so dangerous. Allen now has (at least) 12 rushing touchdowns in back-to-back seasons and 500-plus rushing yards in four consecutive seasons. He has finished as a top-two fantasy quarterback for five consecutive seasons.

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

What a year it was Jackson, who posted career highs in passing yards (4,172) and touchdowns (41) while leading the NFL in TD% (8.6%), yards per attempt (8.8) and passer rating (119.6)! It was the second time in his career that he has finished as fantasy's QB1. He posted a 9% TD% in his other overall QB1 season (2019), and then followed that up with a 6.9% rate in 2020. His career average is 6.4%. Long story short, he was absolutely phenomenal in 2024, but last year's ratios would be unsustainable for any quarterback including Jackson (even though he could repeat as fantasy's QB1). Although he has a max of five rushing touchdowns over the past four seasons, Jackson is the NFL's all-time leader in quarterback rushing yards, averaging a whopping 1,019 yards per 17 games over his career.

3. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

For good reason, Daniels was a favorite of many as a late-round target in fantasy drafts, and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year delivered for those who rostered him in 2024. Daniels' ADP was QB12 (or a little later, depending on the site), and the dual-threat quarterback finished his rookie season as a top-five fantasy quarterback. Along with Lamar Jackson (2023 and 2024) and Kyler Murray (2020), Daniels became only the third quarterback in NFL history to throw and run for at least 3,500 and 800 yards, respectively, in the same season. The front office's offseason moves support his continued development as he enters year two aside from the franchise's contract standoff with Terry McLaurin.

MORE: 2026 Washington Commanders Mock Draft Roundup

> Continue reading our 2025 Fantasy Football QB Rankings


2025 Fantasy Football RB Rankings

1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

You could argue that Robinson (not Saquon Barkley) should be the RB1 in 2025 fantasy football drafts, especially considering Barkley's historic 2024 volume (most combined regular-season and playoff touches in a decade). The 23-year-old running back racked up 1,887 scrimmage yards and scored 15 total touchdowns on 365 touches including 61 receptions. From Week 6 on, Robinson averaged more fantasy points per game (21.1) than all other running backs. During that 12-game span, he averaged 19.8/97.6 rushing, 3.6/23.3 receiving and scored 14 total touchdowns.

2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

Gibbs set or tied career highs across the board in rushing (250/1,412/16, 5.6 YPC) and receiving (52/517/4, 9.9 Y/R) in his second season. Gibbs was also top five among running backs with a minimum of 17 targets in yards per route run (1.67) and YAC per reception (11.5), per PFF. Gibbs was especially good when David Montgomery missed the final three regular-season games (RB1 overall), but he was also the RB3 (RB4 on a PPG basis) from Weeks 1 to 15 when Montgomery was also active.

3. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Joining the exclusive club of 2,000-yard rushers, Barkley racked up an additional 499 rushing yards in four playoff games. Yes, he set a career low in receptions (2.1) per game and Jalen Hurts had more rushing touchdowns (14) than Barkley (career-high 13). Including the postseason, Barkley had 482 touches — the most in a decade and third-most since the turn of the century. That said, he has an elite combination of speed and power, runs behind an elite offensive line and plays with talented wideouts, who keep opposing defenses honest.

More: Saquon Barkley 2025 Fantasy Football Outlook

> Continue reading our 2025 Fantasy Football RB Rankings


2025 Fantasy Football WR Rankings

1. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Posting career highs in his age-24 season, Chase led the NFL in receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17) in 2024 to become the fifth triple crown winner since the league merger. Chase had at least five catches and/or 50 yards in all but one game in 2024, but he also had several monster games. There were nine 35-point wide receiver performances league-wide in 2024, and Chase had three (one-third) of them. From Week 5 on, Chase had a 31.46% target share with a weekly minimum of 24.32%. He's the easy choice to select first overall in fantasy drafts this summer.

2. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Lamb played several weeks dealing with a shoulder injury before shutting it down with a couple of games to go. While his (and Dak Prescott's) injuries factor in, his numbers were down considerably from 2023. Lamb set career lows in yards per reception (11.8) and target (7.9) and his per game averages dropped from 7.9/102.9/0.7 (2023) to 6.7/79.6/0.4 (2024). When everything's clicking, however, Lamb is as productive as any receiver in the league.

3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold created some modest concerns entering 2024, but it was business as usual for Jefferson, who finished with 103 catches for 1,533 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns on 154 targets. Jefferson was consistent throughout the season with 80-plus yards and/or a touchdown in 14 of 17 games. While Darnold will be playing his 2025 home games in the Pacific Northwest, Jefferson is essentially QB-proof in Minnesota's QB-friendly offense.

> Continue reading our 2025 Fantasy Football WR Rankings


2025 Fantasy Football TE Rankings

1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

Bowers led all tight ends in receptions (112), targets (153) and receiving yards (1,194) despite being a rookie with sub-par quarterback play. Only George Kittle scored more fantasy points on a per-game basis, and Bowers led the position in overall points. While it may be difficult to outproduce his rookie numbers, few, if any, tight ends are the focal point of their passing offense the way Bowers is. Even though the Raiders will run the ball more often in 2025, Ashton Jeanty's presence will benefit the pass catchers indirectly by helping to sustain longer drives and Geno Smith will make the passing attack more efficient.

2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

The good news is that McBride smashed previous career highs in targets (147), receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,146). Among all players (wide receivers included), he finished eighth, fourth, and 11th, respectively, in those categories. The bad news is that he had only two touchdowns and has a total of six through three NFL seasons. If there's a glimmer of hope, McBride finished top three in TE targets from inside the 20 (21, T-2nd), 15 (16, T-2nd), 10 (12, 1st) and 5 (seven, T-1st).

Yes, Brock Bowers deserves to be TE1 in fantasy drafts, but it's a 1A/1B (or 1A/1A) situation with Bowers and McBride. Even though I have Bowers ranked ahead of McBride, the former Colorado State tight end may offer a little more value nearly a round later.

3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Kittle finished 2024 with 78 receptions for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns, all of which rank either second or third in his career. Injuries to Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey led to greater consistency from Kittle — 40-plus receiving yards in 13 of 15 games played. Only Bowers had more (14 of 17 games). While Kittle always finishes the year with excellent overall numbers, previous seasons featured more boom-or-bust weeks. For example, his number of 40-yard games were considerably lower in previous seasons — 10 in 2023, six in 2022, and eight in 2021. Among tight ends, Kittle has either led or shared in the lead in PFF's yards per route run metric in all but one season (2022) from 2018 to 2024.

MORE: Which teams have the easiest or hardest NFL Strength of Schedule in 2025?

> Continue reading our 2025 Fantasy Football TE Rankings


Top 200 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet

> Continue reading our Top 200 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet


MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams


2025 Fantasy Football Mock Draft

The best way to become good at something is to practice. So, what should you do if you want to draft a better fantasy football team?

Practice, of course!

Leading up to the start of the 2025 NFL season, we will use the fantasy football mock draft simulator to complete fantasy football mock drafts. And we will do so using a variety of scoring formats — point per reception (PPR), half-PPR, standard scoring and even 2-QB leagues — and league sizes. The goal is to provide you with a good representation of the team that you may be able to draft given your league settings while also providing the rationale of why we made the picks we did.

> Our 2025 mocks will be centralized here: Fantasy Football Mock Drafts.

That said, nothing beats practicing yourself so (check out the simulator) and complete a mock in a matter of minutes.

2025 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team Half-PPR Mock (5th Pick)

Starting positions: 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex (RB/WR/TE), 1 K, 1 DST; Bench spots: 6

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1.05 - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Lamb played several weeks dealing with a shoulder injury before shutting it down with a couple of games to go. While his (and Dak Prescott's) injuries factor in, his numbers were down considerably from 2023. Lamb set career lows in yards per reception (11.8) and target (7.9) and his per game averages dropped from 7.9/102.9/0.7 (2023) to 6.7/79.6/0.4 (2024). When everything's clicking, however, Lamb is as productive as any receiver in the league and he's my second-ranked receiver behind only Ja'Marr Chase.

2.08 - Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Like with Derrick Henry, a concern with Taylor is the lack of receiving volume, especially with Anthony Richardson (or Daniel Jones) under center. Taylor, who missed Weeks 5-7, had only 12/59/1 receiving on 21 targets over the final 10 games of the season. But his rushing numbers over that span were elite — 231 carries for 1,082 yards, both of which were second to only Saquon Barkley, and seven touchdowns. One additional concern with Taylor is that he has missed at least three games in three consecutive seasons.

3.05 - Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

While he would be a WR1 elsewhere, Higgins will continue to benefit from being the 1B to Ja'Marr Chase. While he has missed exactly five games in back-to-back seasons, Higgins finished second (behind Chase) among all wide receivers in fantasy points per game in 2024.

4.08 - Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Adams, who was traded midseason from the Raiders to the Jets, still managed to extend his streak of 1,000-yard, eight-TD seasons to five. Even though he turns 33 on Christmas Eve and won't dominate targets the way he had at previous stops, he should have (or come close to having) another 1,000/8 season. The biggest concern with Adams is Matthew Stafford's back, but he's a nice value as my flex.

MORE: Continue reading our 2025 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team Half-PPR Mock (5th Pick)

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Atlanta Falcons 2024 NFL power rankings post-draft roundup

Throughout the 2024 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a post-NFL draft roundup for the Atlanta Falcons in our consensus 2024 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 20

Most improved: Quarterback

The Falcons needed a quarterback so bad they got two. Free agent signee Kirk Cousins was leading the NFL in passing touchdowns (18) through eight games in 2023 when a torn Achilles tendon ended his season. Atlanta's QB combination of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke threw for 17 TDs in 2023, with 16 interceptions. Only two quarterbacks since 2020 have thrown for more touchdowns than Cousins: Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. The Falcons also drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick, but he doesn't figure to start, barring a health concern for Cousins, until 2026, at the earliest. -- Marc Raimondi

NFL.com -- Rank: 20

When the Falcons chose QB Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall, I chose not to freak out and react reflexively. I wanted to let the move marinate for a bit. Days later, I remain ambivalent, but I feel a little better about the idea. Kirk Cousins turns 36 in August. He's coming off a serious Achilles injury. That said, one would ideally be confident about a quarterback's health when committing as much money as the Falcons did to Cousins; in a perfect world, Penix won't see the field this season except in mop-up time. That's the toughest part to swallow for me when it comes to a team that acted like it was close to win-or-bust mode this offseason. Bill Belichick correctly pointed out during his live draft analysis for "The Pat McAfee Show" that having two good quarterbacks is seldom a bad thing. He's not wrong, of course. But compounding the whole issue is that I didn't love the remainder of the Falcons' draft class. I just don't know how to feel about any of this, honestly.

MORE: 2024 NFL Strength of Schedule

CBS Sports -- Rank: 20

Landing Kirk Cousins seemed to be the smart move, but then they drafted Michael Penix eighth overall. Cousins can't be happy about that and they didn't get better for the now by taking Penix.

USA Today -- Rank: 19

Seems like they have the best talent in the NFC South. But after a draft that can only be described as a fiasco, can QB Kirk Cousins — or shocking first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. — take this team where it hopes to go in 2024?

The Athletic -- Rank: 22

The talk of the draft, but not for the right reasons, the Falcons passed on their best chance to make the 2024 team better by drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick. It might turn out to be a genius move for the future, but it won't help this year with Penix sitting behind Kirk Cousins. The five front-seven defenders they drafted after Penix might help, though.

Fox Sports -- Rank: 17

The Falcons nearly won the NFC South with middling quarterback play last year, so the addition of Kirk Cousins gives them a legit shot to make some noise. I'm going to be confused about the Michael Penix Jr. pick for the rest of my life, but that doesn't change the fact that Atlanta could win 9-plus games in 2024.

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Monday, May 6, 2024

Way-too-early Atlanta Falcons 2025 NFL mock draft roundup

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, we will update our Atlanta Falcons Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Atlanta Falcons from several prominent sites and draft analysts.

The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Falcons:

Fox Sports - Rob Rang (5/3)

21. Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

There wasn't a member of the Georgia defense drafted in the first round this year but don't expect that to be a trend. The twitchy 6-foot-5, 265-pound Williams is still growing into his body, but scouts are excited about his upside — and that is after he led the Bulldogs with 4.5 sacks a year ago.

San Diego Union-Tribune - Eddie Brown (5/2)

20. Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

Here's the pass rusher Falcons fans wish they'd drafted in the first round last Thursday. The Purdue transfer led the Big Ten in sacks (10) and produced 15 tackles for a loss as a sophomore. At 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, Scourton is taking his inside-outside versatility and nasty spin move to the SEC next season.

MORE: 2024 NFL Strength of Schedule

The Athletic - Dane Brugler (4/30)

20. Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

A Purdue transfer, Scourton is 6-4, 260 and rushes with the big-man twitch that makes it tough to keep him blocked. If you're looking for a breakout candidate in the SEC, this is your guy.

PFF - Max Chadwick (4/29)

22. Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Atlanta took a high-quantity approach to their defensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft. In 2025, they could add a dynamic pass rusher like Penn State's Abdul Carter. Carter earned a 90.3 pass-rush grade as an off-ball linebacker, but he will move to the edge this season. Comparisons to Micah Parsons will be plentiful over the next year.

The 33rd Team - Marcus Mosher (4/29)

18. Deone Walker, IDL, Kentucky

The Atlanta Falcons need to continue to upgrade their interior defensive line, and Deone Walker is the best pure nose tackle in the class. At 348 pounds, Walker recorded an incredible 12.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. Productive nose tackles don't last very long in the draft, nor will Walker.

USA Today - Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (4/28)

22. Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Behold, the Falcons' long-awaited premium investment in an edge rusher. Carter could follow Micah Parsons and Chop Robinson in becoming Penn State's next explosive first-round defender. He has the chance to go considerably higher than this if his move this year from linebacker to a full-time defensive end role is fruitful, but he's currently facing a misdemeanor assault charge in an alleged incident with a tow truck driver.

CBS Sports - Ryan Wilson (4/28)

19. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson

Carter was the more versatile and athletic of the Clemson LBs -- comparable athleticism to Trenton Simpson, just not as big. He offers much more position flexibility than Trotter Jr., and while not as big as former first-rounder Isaiah Simmons, he is used in a similar jack-of-all-trades role.

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Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Atlanta Falcons 2024 NFL Draft Grades Roundup

The 2024 NFL Draft is now in the rearview mirror, and we have compiled a consensus ranking using NFL draft grades from a variety of sites.

What draft grades have the media given to the Atlanta Falcons? What are they saying about the Falcons' 2024 draft haul?

NFL.com - Grade: C+

Day 1 grade: C
Day 2 grade: C
Day 3 grade: B

Analysis: It was a strange draft for the Falcons, primarily because of the Penix selection, which was perplexing given their investment in Kirk Cousins this offseason. Penix's strong arm and accuracy from the pocket could make him a star if the injury woes that plagued him at Indiana don't return. Trading up to grab the athletic Orhorhoro was a reach, in my opinion, especially given the team's need at corner. Trice met a crucial need on the edge.

Dorlus fits the mold of Atlanta's defensive linemen. He should be able to play 5-technique or 3-technique depending on where he is needed. Bertrand should contribute on special teams before moving to defense in time. McClellan and Washington -- who broke out as a senior at Illinois -- offer depth at the skill positions. They'll need to find cornerbacks in the undrafted free agent pool after failing to address the position in the draft.

ESPN - Grade: C

Top needs entering the draft: Edge defender, cornerback, wide receiver

With the No. 8 pick, I long considered the Falcons as owning the biggest pivot point in Round 1. Would they trade down to make a deal with a team moving up for a quarterback? Would they stay put and take the first defender off the board? They had options, all of which could help a defense that had just 16 takeaways last season, which ranked 29th in the league. With the addition of quarterback Kirk Cousins, this is a team built to win the NFC South now, but it had to draft significant contributors on the other side of the ball.

And then Atlanta's selection was turned in on Thursday night, and there were mouths agape in the crowd here in Detroit. Look, we can debate Michael Penix Jr.'s (8) talent all we want, but the Falcons had a chance to improve their defense with the best prospects still on the board and didn't take it. Instead, they chose a quarterback to sit behind a guy to whom they just gave $100 million guaranteed. I just don't get the logic here, and it's not like Penix is raw, either. He turns 24 in May and has played a ton of football. It was one of the most shocking picks I can remember in Round 1.

GM Terry Fontenot got much better value on his next three picks. Defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro (35) is a stout run-defender, but Fontenot had to give up his extra third-rounder to move up eight spots to get Orhorhoro. Atlanta doubled up at the position with Brandon Dorlus (109), who I thought could sneak into Round 3. Fontenot also snagged edge rusher Bralen Trice (74), who had 16 sacks over the past two seasons. At least the Falcons helped their needs here.

It's not very difficult to grade this one in the moment based on the value of what Fontenot did in Round 1, even if I like a few other players in the class.

The Ringer - Grade: C

THE MICHAEL PENIX JR. SELECTION WAS AS PERPLEXING AS ANY PICK IN THIS DRAFT, and I say that as someone who actually likes Penix and believes he can be a future starter. It's just tough to reconcile with the fact this team just gave Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal that keeps him in Atlanta for at least two seasons. We may not see the soon-to-be 24-year old Penix until 2026, or beyond, which makes passing on a day-one contributor a tremendous opportunity cost. Outside of the Penix pick, Atlanta did well to beef up their defensive front on Day 2 and Day 3: The team traded up for Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro in the second round, before adding a disruptive edge rusher in Washington's Bralen Trice in the third and the versatile Oregon defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus in the fourth. The Falcons got better on their defensive front, but the short-term implications of taking Penix so early pulled down their overall grade.

USA Today - Grade: D

They did the expected by reinforcing the defense with a highly talented but not all that productive front seven player (Ruke Orhorhoro, Round 2) — when they could have had Newton — and a highly productive but not physically remarkable front seven player (Bralen Trice, Round 3). But, naturally, their draft will forever be regarded and defined by the shocking decision to select Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 selection.

There's no legit argument against opting for quality depth under center given the annual league-wide attrition at the position — Cousins a prime example of the issue in 2023. But this is a highly suspect way to resource it after signing him to a four-year, $180 million deal last month, when he said he looked forward to retiring in Atlanta. And that also cuts to the handling of the matter — if the Falcons' brain trust knew they wanted Penix, there was little chance they wouldn't get him at No. 8 ... which suggests the right thing to do would have been to share the plan with Cousins much earlier than when the team went on the clock Thursday. Maybe this team has set up a seamless succession plan between an established passer and a highly compelling prospect. And maybe the well has been poisoned, and a team that should have been totally focused on loading up around Cousins made a royal miscalculation.

Fox Sports - Grade: C-

Taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 — after giving Kirk Cousins $100 million guaranteed last month — was easily the most criticized pick of the draft. Giving up a third-round pick to slide up eight spots for DT Ruke Orhorhoro in the second round felt like a reach, though Atlanta made a concerted push to upgrade its defensive front, using five of eight picks there. If Penix finds success in the next two years, it's at the expense of a huge investment in Cousins, and the class as a whole feels underwhelming. —Greg Auman

CBS Sports - Grade: C-

Best Pick: Fourth-round defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus from Oregon has a chance to be an early rotation player. He's not huge at 6-3, 295, but he can push the pocket. He will be a steal in the Grady Jarrett mold.

Worst Pick: It's not that taking Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick was a bad move, but rather signing Kirk Cousins and then taking him was the bad move. If you liked him so much, don't sign Cousins.

The Skinny: This draft will be all about how the Falcons play out the Cousins-Penix dynamic. They had a chance to get a much-needed edge rusher if they didn't take Penix. Trading up to get defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro in the second round was questionable as well. They did add some good players in third-round edge Bralen Trice and Dorlus.

Sporting News - Grade: C-

Analysis: GM Terry Fontenot got plenty of heat from every direction for taking Penix in the top 10 after the team committed big money to Kirk Cousins. Penix's big arm is a good fit in the new passing offense, but the Falcons left a lot of elite, impact talent on the board as part of the opportunity cost. Not surprisingly, they chased that misstep by going defense-heavy for new coach Raheem Morris. McClellan and Washington were real offensive reaches on Day 3.

SI - Grade: A

Analysis: Call me crazy, but I'm a huge fan of the Penix pick. The quarterback landscape could be great in two years. It could be barren. But if the Falcons are truly building toward the future, why not make the inevitable transition easy. I think there's a lot of pro-Kirk Cousins sentiment out there, but Cousins will be 36 in August and is coming off an Achilles injury. He has also never reached a conference title game, so it was time to explore all options.

Touchdown Wire - Grade: D

Well. There's really no way to excuse the pick of Michael Penix Jr. this high with Kirk Cousins having signed a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed in March, and with all the needs on defense here. We don't have enough space here to detail the ways in which the Falcons blew this pick, but it is what it is. Way to potentially erase the first 2-3 years of Penix's NFL career, guys.

As if that wasn't YOLO enough, the Falcons traded UP to select Ruke Orhorhoro, a pretty good defensive lineman, with Illinois' Johnny Newton and a whole lot of other defensive talent still on the board. I do like the addition of Washington Bralen Trice here — he's a highly productive edge-rusher with some upside. And Brandon Dorlus was one of my favorite multi-gap pass-rushers. The sleeper here is Illinois receiver Casey Washington, a big-framed target with some unlocked ability as a deep receiver.

The grade is all about those first two picks, and the Falcons getting cute in a draft that could have made them contenders.

More: 2024 NFL Draft Grade Roundups

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Atlanta Falcons 2024 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, we will update our Atlanta Falcons Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Atlanta Falcons from several prominent sites and draft analysts.

The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Falcons:

The Draft Network - Ryan Fowler (1/14)

8. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

My EDGE1 in the class, Laiatu Latu won't blow you away with his athletic profile or 40 time, but his hands, strength, and unbelievably deep pass-rush repertoire is beyond his years. I expect him to dominate one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl and boost his stock into the top 10.

San Diego Union-Tribune - Eddie Brown (1/12)

8. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

Could Belichick end up coaching the Falcons next season? If so, he'd likely pester GM Terry Fontenot to target Turner in the draft. Turner was overshadowed by Will Anderson Jr. his previous two seasons at Tuscaloosa — he had 8.5 sacks as a true freshman in 2021 — but he's capable of being a star in his own right. This season, the AP All-American added some bulk to his frame and displayed more power to go with his already impressive speed-rush capabilities.

The 33rd Team - Marcus Mosher (1/12)

8. Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Ideally, the Atlanta Falcons would love to move up and get one of the top three quarterbacks in this class. But in this mock, they stay at No. 8 and select the top cornerback: Nate Wiggins.

A.J. Terrell had another strong season in Atlanta, but the Falcons need a better option opposite him. Pairing him with another Clemson Tiger in Wiggins makes too much sense.

NBC Sports - Connor Rogers (1/11)

8. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

The first defensive player to come off the board, Turner is as athletic as they come in the front seven. In 2022, so much of his game was built around speed, but the strength strides he made in 2023 have turned him into a top 12 prospect.

He'll play his entire rookie season as a 21-year-old, with a massive pass rush ceiling in front of him.

ESPN - Jordan Reid (1/10)

8. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

It's no secret the Falcons need a quarterback. But Arthur Smith has been relieved of his coaching duties, and with pressure to win next season, I think Atlanta could go the veteran route under center. With that in mind, adding another pass-rusher makes sense, as the Falcons owned the worst pass rush win rate (30.9%) in the league. Latu has an impressive arsenal of pass-rush moves and has improved as a run defender. He was second in the FBS in pressure rate (20.1%) this season and recorded 23.5 sacks since joining UCLA in 2022.

Medical issues are the biggest question mark here. Latu was forced to sit out two seasons because of a 2020 neck injury while still at Washington. But with a clean bill of health, he would be a no-brainer top-10 pick.

The Athletic - Nick Baumgardner (1/10)

TRADE - 1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Proposed trade: Atlanta receives No. 1; Chicago receives Nos. 8 and 43 plus a future first-round pick and a future second-round pick

Chicago hasn't made a decision yet on Justin Fields. If the Bears decide to move on, this pick will be for a quarterback.

At the same time, the Bears' trade last March with Carolina again puts general manager Ryan Poles in a situation in which he can unload No. 1 for a haul, further build around (or kick the can on) Fields and really charge up an already impressive young roster.

Of all the QB-needy teams, Atlanta's roster is the most ready to win. Now, add a new coach and a new face of the franchise. Williams next to running back Bijan Robinson, in an offense with tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London, might sell a ticket or two.

USA Today - Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (1/9)

8. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

The quarterback question is going to hang over the franchise all offseason after Arthur Smith's firing, but there doesn't seem to be a suitable solution here for an otherwise playoff-ready roster. Still, there should be no problem with picking up Turner, a dynamic and explosive edge threat who would recalibrate a lackluster pass rush.

Previous iterations of our mock draft roundup:

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Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Atlanta Falcons Week 10 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 10 roundup for the Atlanta Falcons in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 20

Non-QB MVP: S Jessie Bates III

Atlanta's biggest splash free agent signing, Bates provides stability in the back end and leadership off the field. He's leading the team in interceptions (3) and forced fumbles (2) and tied for third on the team in tackles (60). He has been a big part of an improved Falcons defense that has kept the team in games while the offense sorts things out week after week. -- Michael Rothstein

NFL.com -- Rank: 20

The Falcons have lost five of seven games, seemingly adrift in search of an offensive identity. It's tough when switching between quarterbacks. Taylor Heinicke will get at least one more chance after his up-and-down start against the Vikings, with coach Arthur Smith saying Monday the position would be reassessed going into the Week 11 bye. Heinecke's interception tilted the game in Minnesota's favor, part of a tough second half (6-for-15 passing) for the veteran QB. The Falcons moved the ball but settled for four field goals early. Bijan Robinson is apparently a part-time back now, sharing time with Tyler Allgeier. And the defense allowed 31 points to Jaren Hall and Joshua Dobbs. Their road to the playoffs could end up hinging on the two remaining games against the Saints, a team that has had Atlanta's number for years now.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 22

So much for the change at quarterback changing things up. They are heading in the wrong direction and changes could be coming if they don't turn it around.

USA Today -- Rank: 20

Remember, this is the team that decided it wasn't worth trying to sign QB Lamar Jackson to an offer sheet earlier this year.

The Athletic -- Rank: 22

Report card: C-minus

In the third year under coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot, the Falcons have lost three of four. They have given up a season high in points in each of the last two weeks, and a quarterback change this week didn't change their offensive fortunes. Taylor Heinicke threw a critical interception against Minnesota, and Desmond Ridder might get his job back this week.

FOX -- Rank: 19

Fortunately for the Falcons, they play in an infinitely winnable division. But my goodness, these are missed opportunities. One week after they got outdueled by a rookie quarterback in his first start, they lost to a quarterback who had never taken a snap with his new team. These aren't the types of losses you can typically afford.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 20

The Joshua Dobbs story is great. Here's the flip side: The Falcons lost at home, after leading, to a team with a quarterback who was literally getting plays explained to him in his headset as they were called in. A loss like that has to start the heat on head coach Arthur Smith, who talks like he has all the answers but might not have any.

PFT -- Rank: 18

The defense let them down in the clutch against the Vikings.

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Saturday, November 4, 2023

Atlanta Falcons Week 9 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 9 roundup for the Atlanta Falcons in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 18

It's a work in progress at this point. Desmond Ridder started the first eight games and was a mixed bag. He showed improvement in Weeks 5-7 with three straight 250-yard passing days, but he also had seven turnovers. The Falcons sat Ridder at halftime against Tennessee this past Sunday -- Ridder cleared concussion protocol, but Atlanta held him out because coaches thought something was "off" with Ridder -- and backup Taylor Heinicke replaced him. Smith said Monday the starter for Minnesota will be determined by Wednesday, at least in part due to Ridder's health. -- Michael Rothstein

NFL.com -- Rank: 17

Desmond Ridder's exit to be evaluated for a concussion opened the door for Arthur Smith to make a permanent change to Taylor Heinicke, even if Smith said after Sunday's loss to the Titans that Ridder wasn't benched for performance. The 23 points Sunday were the most Atlanta has scored since Week 2, though; previously, Ridder's penchant for turnovers (he had another one Sunday before leaving) have limited the Falcons' scoring opportunities. Ridder led Atlanta to three first-half points, while Heinicke guided four scoring drives in the second, totaling 20 points and giving Atlanta a chance to win after being down multiple scores. On top of all that, the loss of DT Grady Jarrett to a torn ACL rips a hole in the defense at a spot where the Falcons are most thin. Back to the drawing board.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 19

They have a quarterback problem. Desmond Ridder was benched, which means it could be time for Taylor Heinicke to take over.

USA Today -- Rank: 18

Congrats to rookie RB Bijan Robinson, who notched his first NFL rushing touchdown Sunday. Now as to why he only got 11 touches in a five-point loss in Nashville? Can't explain it.

The Athletic -- Rank: 16

Something scary (for them): A quarterback controversy

The Falcons really want Desmond Ridder to take control of the starting job, but Ridder committed his seventh turnover in the last three weeks Sunday and was taken out of the game after a halftime concussion evaluation. Ridder was cleared by the medical staff, but the Falcons stuck with Taylor Heinicke in the second half anyway. Heinicke led four scoring drives in six possessions. Ridder's eight possessions totaled 89 yards and three points. Coach Arthur Smith did not commit to a starter after the game.

FOX -- Rank: 15

The educated guess is that head coach Arthur Smith is going to stick with Desmond Ridder, and that's honestly fine. Ridder has shown enough flashes to justify that decision. But after watching Taylor Heinicke jump-start Atlanta's offense in the loss to Tennessee, it's fair to wonder how long Ridder's leash will be moving forward.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 17

Head coach Arthur Smith said the Falcons are going to be mindful of Desmond Ridder's health when determining if he can play this weekend. He left Sunday's game to be checked for a concussion, then never came back. Smith, to no surprise, is being vague about what exactly is going on. It leads to speculation that the Falcons are getting a look at Taylor Heinicke due to Ridder's performance as much as his health.

PFT -- Rank: 15

If they want to have a shot at the playoffs, they need to embrace the Heineke rollercoaster.

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Thursday, October 19, 2023

Atlanta Falcons Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 7 roundup for the Atlanta Falcons in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 23

Lesson learned: The quarterback answer is still unknown.

Before the season began, anyone who told you they knew whether or not Desmond Ridder would be a good NFL starter would have been lying to you. Six weeks in, there's not an obvious answer. He has thrown five interceptions over the past three games, and three of the picks looked to be his clear mistake. But he also has thrown for over 300 yards in each of the past two games. There's more data to look at, and Ridder is still young and growing into the role, but the Falcons can't say with any certainty they have their quarterback of the future as Ridder is wildly inconsistent in the present. Which might end up being the answer in the long run. -- Michael Rothstein

NFL.com -- Rank: 22

Arthur Smith's decision to go for two after cutting Washington's lead to eight points early in the fourth quarter (the attempt failed) was not why the Falcons lost Sunday. Analytics folks have been screaming for years that going for two increases a team's chances of winning, and some coaches are finally listening. The real problem: Desmond Ridder followed up arguably the best game of his young career last week with arguably his worst -- against a Commanders defense that just had 40 hung on it by the Bears. Ridder's three picks (especially the last one) and two turnovers on downs did Atlanta in, raising questions about the quarterback and an offense that has failed to top 16 points in half the Falcons' games. The defense had five sacks and allowed fewer than 200 yards, but it wasn't enough.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 20

Losing at home to the Commanders is not good. Desmond Ridder regressed after a promising game a week ago.

USA Today -- Rank: 24

Is there any head coach more fun to watch — meaning, literally taking in his facial expressions — than Arthur Smith? If he wants the focus back on his brilliance as a play caller and not his sideline grimaces, Smith might need to pivot to QB Taylor Heinicke.

The Athletic -- Rank: 23

What's the weirdest statistic in the NFL at the moment? Desmond Ridder has more passing yards in the last two weeks (636 yards) than anyone in the league. Or passing attempts (84) for that matter. But it hasn't helped the Falcons much. They are 1-1 in that span, and their most impressive win this year was against a Houston team that is just starting its rebuild, and they needed a last-second field goal at home to pull that out.

FOX -- Rank: 17

One step forward, one step back for Desmond Ridder. He threw three interceptions against Washington on Sunday — all of them in the second half and one of them in the opposing end zone. In a game that you lose by eight points, it's not remotely good enough.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 21

Bijan Robinson has 80 carries this season. Tyler Allgeier has 75. Robinson is averaging 5 yards per carry. Allgeier is at 3.2. During a key goal-to-go sequence in the fourth quarter that ended with Desmond Ridder throwing an interception, it was Allgeier, not Robinson, who got a first-down carry. Allgeier gained just 1 yard. We all know head coach Arthur Smith has a weird hangup about getting his best players the ball consistently, but why draft Robinson eighth overall if he's going to be just a committee back? You can find that on the third day of the draft.

PFT -- Rank: 22

Is it Heinicke time?

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Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Atlanta Falcons Week 6 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 6 roundup for the Atlanta Falcons in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 16

Fantasy surprise: TE Kyle Pitts

Pitts was off to a rough start (as was the entire Atlanta offense not named Bijan Robinson) in fantasy, with fewer than five fantasy points in two of the first four weeks. So, that's been a disappointment for those who manage Pitts. But a reason to believe might be on the horizon. Pitts had seven catches for 87 yards (on 11 targets) in Week 5 and looked more like his 2021 form, where he had over 1,000 yards receiving and was a Pro Bowler. -- Michael Rothstein

NFL.com -- Rank: 16

Desmond Ridder delivered the performance on Sunday that some critics said he couldn't, which was a huge development for this team. He made several big throws, but none were bigger than the 23-yarder to Drake London with under a minute remaining -- after a low snap, and with pressure in Ridder's face. From there, the Falcons just had to drain the clock and turn it over to their kicker. This game checked a lot of boxes, with Ridder, London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson and Atlanta's underrated defense playing big roles in the victory. We'd still love for the Falcons to score more points, but they are 3-2, and aside from Tampa in Week 7, none of their opponents before their Week 11 bye are currently above .500. Atlanta is back in good shape to contend for the NFC South crown.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 14

Desmond Ridder showed a lot in leading the Falcons to a game-wining field goal against the Texans. They bounced back nicely after a bad showing in London.

USA Today -- Rank: 16

If you know anything about the NFL, and running backs in particular, best to appreciate their genius while you can. Thankfully, Bijan Robinson has been putting his on display week in and week out, Sunday's TD catch-and-run a thing of beauty.

The Athletic -- Rank: 17

Running back Bijan Robinson, the No. 8 pick, has made Atlanta's offense better and more fun. Robinson is the second-leading rookie rusher (364 yards on 67 carries) and is tied for the team lead in receptions (21). He also leads the NFC in plays that make you want to rewind your television. He had another one Sunday when he caught a touchdown pass behind his back. Second-round pick Matthew Bergeron has been the Day 1 starter at left guard.

FOX -- Rank: 14

So much hype and attention on C.J. Stroud, so much criticism of Desmond Ridder. But the beauty of the NFL is that none of it mattered when Ridder got the ball, down by two with 1:49 to play, and led the Falcons to the game-winning field goal. It was the best day of his career. Can he keep it up?

Yahoo! -- Rank: 18

The Falcons' schedule is really soft. The only teams they play the rest of the season that currently have a winning record are Tampa Bay (twice), New Orleans (twice) and Indianapolis. Atlanta can beat bad teams, we have seen that. It's possible the Falcons could fall into 10 wins without beating anyone good.

PFT -- Rank: 15

Desmond Ridder delivered, just as the calls for Taylor Heinicke were getting very loud.

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