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Atlanta Falcons: Three players the franchise can’t afford to opt-out in 2020

By Jeff Benedict

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Deion Jones #45 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates after intercepting Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (not pictured) and returning it for a touchdown to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-22 in overtime at Raymond James Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Deion Jones #45 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates after intercepting Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (not pictured) and returning it for a touchdown to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-22 in overtime at Raymond James Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Falcons
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 10: Alex Mack #51 of the Atlanta Falcons in action during a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on November 10, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Three players the Atlanta Falcons cannot afford to opt-out in 2020.

When you talk about three players that the Atlanta Falcons cannot afford to opt-out in 2020, it would be really easy to say Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Grady Jarrett and that would be correct. Those are your captains and the guys that you have built around to be successful.

However, there are three other Atlanta Falcons players that are equally important to the success of the 2020 season and it is paramount that they not opt-out once the NFL and NFLPA sign there agreement after the weekend.

As we wrote yesterday, running back Todd Gurley is thinking about opting out if he doesn’t like the safety measures in place, which is understandable given the ever-changing nature of what we are dealing with in regards to the worldwide pandemic.

We would all agree that the Falcons offense potentially suffers without Gurley in 2020 but with Ito Smith, Brian Hill, and Qadree Ollison coming back, it would not hurt nearly as much as losing several other players on the roster.

Alex Mack

The Atlanta Falcons don’t have any experience behind Alex Mack and losing him would be disastrous for the offense.

We all saw the difference in Matt Ryan’s play since Alex Mack was signed as an unrestricted free agent. The confidence that Matt has knowing he won’t get hit from the middle has allowed him to flourish even more that he did the first seven years of his career.

Sure, the Atlanta Falcons spent a draft pick on Matt Hennessy out of Temple with the hope that he will eventually replace Alex Mack but that doesn’t mean it needs to happen in 2020. Mack and Jake Matthews are the most important pieces to the Falcons offensive line that should be much improved in 2020.

With all the playmakers on offense, losing Alex Mack would be detrimental to the offenses ability to play with the fluidity that they need in order to be successful in 2020.

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