2024 offseason primer: Falcons ready to reload with new HC Raheem Morris
Although the Atlanta Falcons (7-10 in 2023) suffered their sixth straight losing season, with six one-score losses they were a few breaks away from being a playoff team.
Arthur Smith was fired after three consecutive 7-10 seasons and while owner Arthur Blank flirted with bringing in Bill Belichick, Los Angeles Rams DC Raheem Morris was ultimately hired to snap Atlanta’s six-year playoff drought.
It’s likely the team will move on from quarterback Desmond Ridder or at the very least keep him around to have a backup with starting experience while they draft or trade for another signal caller to replace him. Atlanta has plenty of young play-makers to build around – running back Bijan Robinson, receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts – with an improved defense that is a few pieces away from making the jump into the league’s elite. The Falcons ranked 11th in total defense in 2023.
The Falcons are a team to watch in the 2024 NFL Draft as they've been linked to Chicago's Justin Fields. They have also been floated as a trade-up option in the first round in April.
Here’s what you need to know about Atlanta’s offseason:
PROJECTED 2024 CAP SPACE: $29.8M (16th-most in NFL)
FREE AGENTS | Offense: QBs Logan Woodside, Feleipe Franks; RB Cordarrelle Patterson; FB Keith Smith; OT Ethan Greenidge; WRs Mack Hollins, Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, Khadarel Hodge; TE MyCole Pruitt; Centers Matt Hennessy, Ryan Neuzil; Long snapper Liam McCullough
Defense: DT Albert Huggins; DEs Calais Campbell, Kentavius Street, Joe Gaziano; LBs Nathan Landman, Bud Dupree; CBs Jeff Okudah, Tre Flowers
Outlook: The Falcons are in the middle of the pack in terms of cap space, so they’ll have to be economical with their free-agent spending. An upgrade at QB is needed, but that will likely come through the draft or via trade. Hollins was a disappointment and contributed very little in 2023, but Jefferson is an intriguing option as a No. 3 WR to be retained.
Atlanta can afford to let most of its own free agents hit the open market, but Campbell, who led the team with 6.5 sacks, Okudah, who allowed a 61.5 completion percentage and zero touchdowns in coverage, should be two of the team’s top priorities.
2024 DRAFT PICKS: Round 1 (No. 8 overall)| Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 3 (via Jacksonville) | Round 4 |Round 5 | Round 6 (via Cleveland)
TOP DRAFT NEEDS (in order): QB, Edge-rusher, S, WR, DT — If Atlanta doesn’t make a push for Fields, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Oregon’s Bo Nix could all be options at No. 8 overall. The Falcons could also trade back, pick up more draft capital and pick one of those three QBs in the mid-to-late first round.
If the Falcons don’t deem any of the remaining passers worthy of the No. 8 pick, the best available edge-rusher (Alabama’s Dallas Turner, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu) or receiver (Washington’s Rome Odunze, Florida State’s Keon Coleman) could be the route they take.
DRAFT PROSPECTS TO WATCH: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington, J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan; Bo Nix, QB, Oregon; Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State, Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA, Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama; Rome Odunze, WR, Washington; Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State; Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU; Jer’Zahn Newton, DT, Illinois, T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas; Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan; Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota; Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
THREE 2024 STORYLINES TO WATCH:
Who is Atlanta’s starting QB in 2024?
Will Morris pull an anti-Smith and actually turn Robinson loose?
How does Zac Robinson handle his first year as an offensive coordinator?
More must-reads: