4 Atlanta Falcons set for a breakout season in 2023

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Sep 11, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Arnold Ebiketie (47) celebrates after a sack with linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji (92) against the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Arnold Ebiketie

Looking at the Atlanta Falcons roster searching for a source of a pass rush Arnold Ebiketie stands out. Watching back the 2022 season often Ebiketie was a step away from making the play and one of the few Atlanta pass rushers who seemed to give consistent effort and create pressure.

Ebiketie finished with only 2.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits in the 2022 season though the edge rusher did force two fumbles. Under Ryan Nielsen and Jerry Gray with better coaching and more depth added both to the middle of the line and edge rushers Ebiketie is going to take a huge leap forward.

Double-digit sacks shouldn’t be out of the question for the second-year pass rusher who has the ability to be a great pass rusher with better coaching and more help around him. It shouldn’t be a surprise if Ebiketie works his way into the starting lineup with a new addition at the opposite edge and new help for Grady Jarrett on the inside. Ebiketie is going to be part of the solution for an Atlanta pass rush that has been the biggest source of the team’s struggles on defense for the past three seasons.