The Falcons have been one of the most active teams this offseason, swinging a trade for Jonnu Smith while signing big ticket free agents like Jessie Bates III and David Onyemata.
After finishing with a 7-10 record in back-to-back seasons, Atlanta has put themselves in a position to finish above .500 for the first time in five seasons. The roster is already in a better state currently than it was in either of the first two seasons of the regime’s tenure. Moreover, the division is worse than it’s been in that same period.
However, national outlets don’t feel the same way. ESPN’s post-free agency power rankings have completely disregarded anything Atlanta has done this offseason. ESPN has the Falcons ranked as the 28th-best team, despite finishing better than that in 2021 and 2022. It doesn’t make any sense at all.
Our power panel is a group of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities that evaluates how NFL teams stack up against each other, then ranks them from 1 to 32
Way-too-early ranking: 26
Top under-the-radar move: Signing linebacker Kaden Elliss
The Falcons, with $233 million-plus spending in one day, didn’t do much under the radar. But bringing in Elliss could be a nice move for them. He doesn’t have huge stats — seven sacks in his first year as a true defensive starter — but if any staff would know his potential, it is Atlanta’s because of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. Nielsen and Elliss were in New Orleans together last season. — Michael Rothstein
It’s not like it was one guy either. The panel was a group made up of more than 80 individuals. The Falcons finished with the 24th-best record in football last year, signed a number of impactful free agents, and somehow got worse?
These power rankings don’t really even mean anything, but I find it interesting how little the national media pay attention to what happens in Atlanta. If they did, the Falcons wouldn’t be ranked in the bottom five of the league.
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