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Julio Jones and the storm of rumors
It’s the topline news of the week: The Falcons are reportedly interested in moving star wide receiver Julio Jones to address their cap situation and get their draft class under contract.
Matt Ryan was asked about Julio earlier in the week, and remarked on how pivotal that he’s been to his career growth.
No news on Grady Jarrett’s contract
The Falcons have also reportedly not approached defensive tackle Grady Jarrett regarding his contract, an adjustment of which or an extension could provide Atlanta the cap space it needs ahead of the 2021 NFL season.
Kyle Pitts #Content
Unsurprisingly, new Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was named as one of the 2021 rookies in a position to succeed. Atlanta hopes that new TE coach Justin Peelle can help elevate Pitts at the NFL level.
Sweet
The Falcons reportedly claimed OT William Sweet off of waivers from Dallas.
Arthur Smith and running backs in the passing game
Hoping to see Atlanta’s running backs more involved in the passing attack under Arthur Smith? Given his history, you shouldn’t expect the Falcons’ backs to get many targets.
Bounceback candidates: DE Dante Fowler
The Falcons’ big free agent addition prior to the 2020 season was Dante Fowler, and to say that he was unimpressive in his inaugural campaign in Atlanta would be an understatement. He’s shown over his career that he can be a productive pass rusher, and the Falcons will need him to bounce back in 2021 if their defense is to improve.
NFL YoungBoys Never Broke Again
Atlanta enters the 2021 NFL season with the eighth-youngest roster in the league — the team’s average age at 24.98. By comparison, they held the league’s eldest roster prior to the 2020 season.
Adds/Subtractions after rookie minicamp
Rookie minicamp is complete, and it resulted in a number of additions and subtractions. The Falcons brought in veteran defensive tackle Olive Sagapolu for minicamp, and they must have liked what they saw because he was signed. He now hopes to stick on the final roster.
They added another veteran tryout player as well. Atlanta announced that it had signed DT Eli Ankou while releasing defensive lineman Eli Howard.
Post-draft roster previews: Linebackers
If the Falcons are going to improve their pass rush under defensive coordinator Dean Pees’ system, their group of outside linebackers will need to deliver. That group is one of the team’s biggest question marks heading into 2021.
The opposite can be said for the inside linebacker unit, which should be considered one of the team’s strongest.