Richie Grant Role Change After Jessie Bates Signs With Falcons?

When the Atlanta Falcons drafted UCF product Richie Grant No. 40 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, many expected the safety to make an immediate impact.

And despite suiting up in all but one game, Grant's rookie campaign did not live up to those high expectations - playing roughly 25 percent of defensive snaps and finishing with 35 total tackles.

However, this past season was a turning point for the now 25-year-old, finishing second on the defense in tackles (123), to go along with seven pass deflections and two interceptions.

“Everybody wanted instant gratification,” head coach Arthur Smith said last season. “[Grant] is playing pretty damn good football right now, he really is. Sometimes you rush guys too early and it can be a detriment to their career.” 

A big part of Grant's production is the switch he saw to the nickel. Of the 1,112 defensive snaps the Falcons played in 2022, Grant lined up in all but five of those, including playing every snap from Week 6 onward.

“[Nickel] gives you a whole new perspective,” Grant said in September. “Now I know what that nickel sees, I am seeing everything. Now being on the back end, I get to see everything and it’s, ‘I’m back in my element.’ I’m just way more comfortable. This staff did a great job with what they did with me.”

Now with Jessie Bates III in the secondary alongside Grant, the former UCF Knight will look to spend a lot more time at nickel while the former Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowler will line up at safety next to Jaylinn Hawkins.

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