Players that should not wear a Falcons uniform in 2020
By Ross Terrell
This list isn’t as long simply because the offense has been the lone bright spot. Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are in the middle of hall of fame careers and with the emergence of Austin Hooper and Calvin Ridley, there’s no reason this offense shouldn’t be a juggernaut.
But they lack consistency. We’ve seen in two games, Colts and Cardinals, what this team can do when they click. They’ve just yet to do that for four quarters and it’s cost them.
So who are the offensive no brainers?
You gotta give Justin Hardy props, he has hung around year after year without really making plays. The Falcons tried him at punt returner one year and that didn’t even work out. They opted to go with Mohamed Sanu in backup duty this year.
Matt Schaub should retire at year’s end but if he doesn’t, it’s time for the Falcons to maybe find their quarterback of the future that can learn under Matt Ryan. That’s a best-case scenario. Draft a rookie with actual promise who can sit for a couple of years before taking over.
As far as Stocker and Carpenter, there are other guys with much more promise and much fewer years of wear and tear. A healthy Lindstrom pushes Jamon Brown to another position and the loser of the competition between him and Carpenter has to walk.
Things get sticky though when it comes to these next two guys:
- Devonta Freeman
- Mohamed Sanu
The Falcons can get younger and cheaper at the running back position. Look at the emergence of top running backs around the league. The highest-paid guy isn’t always the best. This position is also easy enough to learn that you can hold it down with young guys on cheap contracts. That seems to be the shift anyway. The Falcons overpaid for Freeman and they need out of his contract as soon as possible and thankfully there is one at the end of this season.
As far as Sanu, he’s a gadget player. He brings swagger. He could very easily stick around. But he benefits by having the attention placed on other players. As Ridley and Hooper’s game evolves, that role can go to another player like Russell Gage or a promising rookie. Sanu becomes expendable.
Trading him for a piece of a draft pick would be preferred versus outright cutting him.