Atlanta Falcons: Arthur Smith will a get chance to be rookie of the year

New Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith will get a great opportunity to prove he is the head of the class among the seven new head coaches in 2021.

Of the six other first-year head coaches that will take the field in 2021, the Atlanta Falcons will play four of the possible six – Jaguars, Lions, Eagles, and Jets. The only two first-year head coaches that he will not face are Texans and new head coach David Culley as well as the Chargers and first-time head coach Brandon Staley.

Not only will the Jets, Jaguars, and Lions have first-year head coaches, but they will also have quarterbacks taking their first snaps for the franchise.

Rookies Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson will lead the Jaguars and the Jets, meanwhile, Jared Goff was sent to Detroit for Matthew Stafford.

Atlanta Falcons should at least match their 2020 win total

Going 4-12 in 2020 was a tough pill to swallow for both the franchise as well as Atlanta Falcons fans. Looking at the 2021 schedule, the Falcons should record at least four wins against the same four teams mentioned above.

While we do expect them to win a few more than in 2020, beating the other four rookie head coaches on the schedule will quickly allow Arthur Smith to jump to the head of the class, which will be an important start to his career with the Falcons.

Atlanta offers a lot in terms of affordability, four seasons, nightlife, and great facilities. If Smith can prove himself to be among the top head coaches in the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons will attract free agents in the years to come which is something currently missing.

Even if they had money to spend, the league’s elite free agents aren’t flocking to Atlanta given the dumpster fire that the franchise became under former head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff.