Here’s the Falcons 2020 roster post-draft

With the dust settling on the 2020 NFL Draft, it’s time to take a closer look at this roster. The Falcons set out to get better this offseason and have done it on paper, though not in spectacular fashion minus the very big deal signing of Dante Fowler. This roster is also likely not done, because Desmond Trufant’s post-June 1 money will be useful this summer as the Falcons try to grab another pass rusher or perhaps a veteran tight end, but what you see below is a solid starting point for where they plan to go this coming year.

Please note that this list includes UDFAs who have been reported but not yet confirmed by the team. I’ve asterisked those players for the moment. If all the UDFA signings were reported correctly, the Falcons currently have 87 of their 90 offseason roster spots filled, giving them room to add a couple of young players or veterans in the weeks ahead.

Offense

QB Matt Ryan
QB Matt Schaub
QB Kurt Benkert
QB Danny Etling

RB Todd Gurley
RB Ito Smith
RB Brian Hill
RB Qadree Ollison
RB Craig Reynolds

FB Keith Smith
FB Mikey Daniel*

WR Julio Jones
WR Calvin Ridley
WR Russell Gage
WR Laquon Treadwell
WR Olamide Zaccheaus
WR Christian Blake
WR Devin Gray
WR Brandon Powell
WR Chris Rowland*
WR Juwan Green*
WR Jalen McCleskey*

TE Hayden Hurst
TE Jaeden Graham
TE Khari Lee
TE Carson Meier
TE Jared Pinkney*
TE Caleb Rapp*

OT Jake Matthews
OT Kaleb McGary
OT/OG Matt Gono
OT/OG John Wetzel
OT Hunter Atkinson*

OG/OC Matt Hennessy
OG Chris Lindstrom
OG James Carpenter
OG Jamon Brown
OG Justin McCray

OC Alex Mack
OC/OG Sean Harlow

OL Scottie Dill*
OL Evin Ksiezarcyzk*
OL Austin Capps*
OL Justin Gooseberry*

Defense

DE Takk McKinley
DE Dante Fowler
DE Steven Means
DE Allen Bailey
DE/DT John Cominsky
DE Austin Larkin
DE Austin Edwards*
DE Hinwa Allieu*

DT Grady Jarrett
DT Marlon Davidson
DT Tyeler Davison
DT Deadrin Senat
DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
DT Sailosi Latu*

LB Deion Jones
LB Foye Oluokun
LB Mykal Walker
LB Edmond Robinson
LB LaRoy Reynolds
LB Ahmad Thomas
LB Rayshawn Wilborn*
LB Bryson Young*

CB A.J. Terrell
CB Isaiah Oliver
CB Kendall Sheffield
CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson
CB Jordan Miller
CB Josh Hawkins
CB C.J. Reavis
CB Rojesterman Farris II*
CB Delrick Abrams*
CB Tyler Hall*

S Keanu Neal
S Ricardo Allen
S Damontae Kazee
S Jayllin Hawkins
S Sharrod Neasman
S Jamal Carter
S/CB Chris Cooper

Special Teams

K Younghoe Koo

P Ryan Allen
P Sterling Hofrichter

LS Josh Harris

Overall, this roster is solid at most spots and spectacular at a small handful. Key strengths include quarterback (where the Falcons finally have a couple of interesting young players to duke it out with Matt Schaub for backup), wide receiver (where they have intriguing young talent and two great options atop the depth chart), and defensive tackle (where they have a surplus of run stoppers, their best defender in Grady Jarrett, and Marlon Davidson and John Cominsky as potential terrific pass rushing pieces). Weaknesses still include edge rusher, where there isn’t much help beyond the starters, and tight end and cornerback, where there are a lot of unproven players who will be asked to do a lot in 2020.

It’s hard to feel like this roster is championship-caliber, but with an expanded playoff format they’re not more than a couple of quality pieces away from being a contender, assuming Dirk Koetter’s traditional second year swoon doesn’t wreck this offense. The defense is better in the trenches with Fowler, a healthy Means, and 2nd round pick Davidson than it was in 2019, but the linebacker group may not be with De’Vondre Campbell gone and the secondary is going to have to rely on a host of unproven players. They’ll need a lot of leaps and productive rookies to really lift this unit up, so it’s fair to sit back and be a little skeptical until that happens.

Overall, as I said above, this is a solid starting point for the Falcons, who should be aggressive with their summer cap space about adding a couple more productive veterans to help out. I’m much more bullish on this roster over the long haul than I am for 2020, but with the expanded playoff format and plenty of incoming talent, it’s fair to be intrigued by what’s ahead for Atlanta.

How are you feeling about this team today?