Falcons Camp Battles To Watch For – Offense

With Falcons training camp right around the corner, it’s time we dive into the impending camp battles in part one of this two part series.

The boring period of the NFL offseason is almost over. Soon, we will have lots to talk about regarding our Atlanta Falcons and the 2017 season.

In fact, just next week, the Falcons kick off their three day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday in Flowery Branch. There we hope to learn more from the positional battles that will take place this summer during training camp.

With the Falcons returning the bulk of their NFC Championship roster, very few spots are up for grabs. Right guard and fullback highlight the list of starter vacancies, with the latter seemingly Derrick Coleman’s for the taking.

Nevertheless, a handful of competitions remain unsettled and this two part series seeks to sift through them, determining a winner for each. The following three openings on offense deserve the most fanfare as we make the final push toward the 2017 season.

Right Guard: Wes Schweitzer vs. Ben Garland

Thanks to the retirement of Chris Chester, the battle for right guard takes center stage at Falcons Headquarters this summer. Per Dan Quinn, the competitors for the job are 2016 6th round pick Wes Schweitzer and Swiss Army knife Ben Garland.

In Schweitzer, the Falcons possess a highly intelligent lineman who is also an underrated athlete. He spent the entirety of his rookie campaign learning the ropes behind Chester and growing close to starting right tackle Ryan Schraeder.

In the opposite corner stands the ultra versatile Ben Garland. As his position coach Chris Morgan articulated here, Garland brings a unique skill set to the OL group given his experience playing defensive tackle.

Ultimately, I believe the upside of Schweitzer wins out as he locks down the right guard duties. As a consolation prize, Garland resumes his role as the do-it-all lineman for the Falcons.

Swing Tackle : Andreas Knappe vs. Kevin Graf vs. Will Freeman vs. Daniel Brunskill

I know what you’re thinking—not the most inspiring group of offensive linemen. And the truth is, the Falcons may not be finished adding competition to this talent pool.

But for now, we are left with this fatal four-way battle between a quartet of undrafted free agents, with Kevin Graf being the elder statesman of the bunch, having gone undrafted in 2014.

The long shots in this contest are Freeman and Brunskill as both attempt to make the transition from defensive tackle and tight end, respectively. That leaves us with the aforementioned Graf and the 6-foot-8, 325 pound Danish import Andreas Knappe.

While still very raw, Knappe was a three year starter at right tackle for the Connecticut Huskies. Rumor has it the Falcons would have wagered a seventh round pick on the Dane had they been afforded one.

With all that in mind, Knappe appears likeliest to win the assignment and be Jake Matthews and Ryan Schraeder’s primary backup.

Sixth Wide Receiver: Devin Fuller vs. Nick Williams vs. B.J. Daniels vs. UDFAs

By virtue of Eric Weems not re-signing with the team, an opening at the bottom of the receiver depth chart exists. The Falcons could, of course, opt to carry a fourth running back, but with Quinn raving of Derrick Coleman’s versatility, a sixth wideout seems more plausible.

The heavy favorites going in are Fuller and Williams. Both impressed the coaching staff at some point or another during their Falcon careers and both have experience as a return man in college.

However, with Fuller being a Quinn selection and Williams a Kyle Shanahan carryover, I’d give the edge to Fuller to win the job.

So, there you have it. Schweitzer, Knappe, and Fuller stand the best chance to secure the final three roster spots on offense.

In the comments section, let us know who you think is most likely to earn those jobs. And stay tuned for part two when I uncover the winners of the positional battles on defense.

Next: NFC South: Biggest Free Agency Additions