Atlanta Falcons best and worst position groups heading into 2020
By Joe Beasley
Wide Receiver
The wide receiver position for the Atlanta Falcons is the strongest position on the team by far.
Anytime you can trot out one of, if not, the best receiver in the NFL in Julio Jones, you already have a leg up on the competition.
Even though the Falcons traded Mohammad Sanu during the season, they still have a very capable number two receiver in Calvin Ridley who was coming into his own before he was injured.
The other young receivers on this team have had some moments of their own during the season.
Russell Gage is only a few games removed from a performance in which he had eight catches and in the most recent game against the Saints, he caught a touchdown pass.
Olamide Zaccheaus only has one catch this year, but that catch was a 93-yard touchdown grab in which he showcased his speed and should be a valuable weapon for the Falcons for years to come.
Justin Hardy has been reliable for the Falcons for years now when Sanu or Ridley haven’t been available to play.
The Atlanta Falcons are in a position to be set at the wide receiver position for the foreseeable future. With some good development from their younger players, there a possibility the Falcons could have an embarrassment of riches at the receiver position.
Secondary
Even though the Atlanta Falcons rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of pass defense, don’t let that fool you into thinking they don’t have talent back there.
We all know what kind of game-changer Keanu Neal can be when he’s healthy. He’s one of the hardest hitters in the league and the best pure tackler on the team.
While Desmond Trufant gets a bad rap from fans, he currently leads the team in interceptions even though he has missed his fair share of games. If he is able to put it all together in one season, Trufant can be one of the league’s best.
Damontae Kazee is coming off a season in which he was one of the league leaders in interceptions as well and has three this season.
Just live the wide receiver position, the Falcons have two young guys that have the potential to be key prices to the team in Isaiah Oliver and Kendall Sheffield.