Predicting Falcons’ final roster after first cuts: Defense

The Atlanta Falcons hope that Dean Pees can turn this defense around in his second year

The Falcons need to get more out of their defense, no question about it. They were not good last year as everyone outside of A.J. Terrell and Grady Jarrett struggled.

You have probably heard about or listened to Dean Pees’ speech that will make anyone want to run through a wall. He has the smarts and experience to turn this group around.

The question is, do they have enough talent? We do not have the answer to that yet but if we had to take a guess, the answer is probably not quite yet.

A.J. Terrell, Casey Hayward, and Grady Jarrett are the players you can count on, they have proven that. But three players will not make a great defense, they will need the rookie pass rushers, a couple young safeties, and a couple of linebackers to step up. Can you really count on all that happening?

At the very least they are more talented than they were a year ago. No more Dante Fowler, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, Fabian Moreau, and others starting anymore. Instead, there are now promising young guys.

Here are the predictions for who will make the Atlanta Falcons roster on the defensive side of the ball: