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Who has the most to prove this summer for the Falcons?

These players have to show out at camp and in preseason, for various reasons.

NFL: Atlanta Falcons-Training Camp Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta’s training camp is in full swing, and god, does it feel good to see football in full swing again. The players must feel the same way, but there has to be some anxiety mixed in for those players who are competing for jobs.

Let’s talk about those players today, and recognize that they’ll need quality practices and preseason games to get there, starting with Thursday night. Here are the ones who most need quality camps to ensure they’re Falcons come September.

RB Brian Hill

The Falcons could use a third back, because either Devonta Freeman or Tevin Coleman might get hurt at some point, or simply need a breather. Hill looks like a solid long-term option and a potential #2 back as a physical, hard-charging back with legitimate talent. The team hasn’t seemed all that high on him early at camp, though, and both Terron Ward and B.J. Daniels loom as options.

G Wes Schweitzer

Schweitzer has an opportunity to capture a starting job at right guard he could hold for 5-10 years. If he misses out this year, though, he could be on the outside looking in in 2018 with Ben Garland starting and Sean Harlow probably getting a crack at a job, too.

T Andreas Knappe

We profiled the hulking tackle earlier this morning, but suffice to say if he stands out, this is a job he could hold for a while. The Falcons could desperately use a young, talented player to provide some stability behind their starters, and if it’s not Knappe, it may well end up being a stopgap veteran again.

LB Duke Riley

On one hand, Riley is seemingly assured of a starting job. On the other hand, De’Vondre Campbell and Kemal Ishmael are legitimately talented players who already have roles carved out, and they could steal the gig away if Riley falters at all. He’s got a tougher competitive situation than most on the roster, even if the Falcons would love to see him take the job and run with it.

CB Jalen Collins

Oops, this got out of date real fast.


Who would make your list?