Terry Fontenot spoke at the start of the NFL Combine allowing many Atlanta Falcons questions to be answered for the first time this off-season. With free agency still eleven days away and the draft more than a month off, we are still a long way from having concrete answers as to how Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot will opt to build out the roster.
It is clear the Falcons are shifting their perspective completely on the off-season with the ability to spend while still avoiding the mistakes of the previous front office. Fontenot noted that the team would be spending in free agency without making reckless decisions.
Atlanta will still look for bargain deals and attempt not to add the five best players this off-season but to provide Arthur Smith with the most complete group possible to build out the final roster and practice squad heading into the 2023 season.
With this in mind, let’s look at the highlights from Terry’s presser and what Atlanta fans should expect from the Falcons this off-season.
1. Atlanta will add to the quarterback position during the off-season
Off the top of the press conference, Fontenot addressed Atlanta’s outlook on the quarterback position maintaining a positive outlook on Desmond Ridder while making it clear the team will add to the position.
It wouldn’t be a leap to take away from this that the Falcons will be looking to add a quarterback or two that will compete with Desmond Ridder for the starting job. Fontenot was positive about Ridder but in no way embraced the second-year quarterback as the clear starter.
While he will have the inside track it is clear Atlanta is going to provide competition and force Ridder to prove he is the best option for the team moving forward. It is important to remember that last off-season Fontenot and Smith were both positive about Matt Ryan as well, however, just before attempting to land Deshaun Watson and sending Ryan to the Colts settling for Marcus Mariota. While Atlanta has every reason to give Ridder a chance to win the starting job both from the press conference and learning from last season Ridder is going to have to win the job.
2. Tyler Allgeier will be protected in Arthur Smith’s system
When Terry Fontenot talks about the Atlanta running back the GM notes the importance of spreading out carries. Though the team already has Cordarrelle Patterson and Avery Williams under contract the team is going to add to the position.
The most likely scenarios for the Falcons is adding to the position late in the draft as they did with Allgeier or bringing in a veteran as they did with Damien Williams. Adding a veteran player the team can rely on if needed or easily move on from if Avery Williams or another unexpected contributor steps up.
Caleb Huntley ended the 2022 season with an injury that has his future for the 2023 season in question or the team might be confident moving forward with Huntley, Patterson, Williams, and Allgeier.
Atlanta shouldn’t consider adding Bijan Robinson or another top running back target in free agency or the draft needing simply a depth piece behind Allgeier and Patterson not another starting option with two players capable of starting already on the roster.
3. Atlanta will keep their draft options open
One of the final things that Fontenot said when discussing the draft was pointing out Atlanta’s flexibility in the first round focused not on a position but getting a good player whether that is moving up or down in the draft. Atlanta has hit on each of their first round picks in Terry’s first two seasons with the team picking Drake London and Kyle Pitts in the 2022 and 2021 off-seasons respectively.
It is interesting that moving up or down in the draft was mentioned considering Atlanta’s current push to contend. Moving up would be a surprise for a team that isn’t simply a player or two away from being a contender.
Moving down in the draft would make far more sense if C.J. Stroud and the best three pass rushers are off the board as expected. If that happens the Falcons could look to trade down with a team willing to reach for a quarterback or a player inside the top ten. Fontenot has shown an ability to add players late in the draft that have an impact on the team. Adding more picks and moving down in the first round wouldn’t be a bad move for a team with a lot of roster spots to address.