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3 Most shocking Atlanta Falcons roster decisions

By Nick Halden

Aug 1, 2022; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons team owner Arthur Blank in his cart talking to general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith on the field during training camp at IBM Performance Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2022; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons team owner Arthur Blank in his cart talking to general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith on the field during training camp at IBM Performance Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Atlanta Falcons guard Jalen Mayfield (77) following the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Atlanta Falcons guard Jalen Mayfield (77) following the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jalen Mayfield

The Atlanta Falcons seemed to be practicing what they had preached when the team started making initial roster decisions not hesitating to move on from rookie Justin Shaffer or one of last year’s picks in Frank Darby. All throughout camp and the preseason Arthur Smith and Dean Pees have made it clear that if a player doesn’t earn his spot the team was going to move on no matter the paycheck or how the player ended up on the roster.

Darby and Shaffer were examples of this and it appeared Atlanta was sticking to this mentality before deciding to keep Jalen Mayfield on the roster. Why is an offensive guard who can’t block the air in front of him still on this team?

Whether it was doing his best to get Matt Ryan sacked on every snap or whiffing on blocks in camp at least Mayfield has been consistent. It was time for Atlanta to move on and bring Mayfield back to the practice squad if they still believed he could develop. Already he has lost his starting role to Elijah Wilkinson whose natural position isn’t left guard speaking to how easily Mayfield’s job could be won. It doesn’t matter why Mayfield made the roster it was the wrong decision and anyone that has had to watch the left guard play knows this.

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