In 13 hours from now, we are going to see the Atlanta Falcons take the field for the first time since the first week of January. It's may be the preseason and we won't see the starters for very long, but we'll still get to see them in the first game of the Kevin Stefanski era. It's an exciting feeling in the air.
After spending the last three weeks working hard and preparing, this is the start of the culmination of the next 20 weekends. NFL football is back, and more importantly, so is Falcons football. We've started to see players make an impression in training camp, but the preseason is a different beast.
And with the preseason opener tight around the corner, there's no better time to take a look at the roster bubble and our favorite position battles, but not with a stock report. That's right, it's time for our second 53-man roster prediction of the offseason days after the unofficial depth chart dropped.
Let's take a look:
Assessing what the Falcons' Week 1 roster will look like before the preseason opener
QBs: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Cooper Rush (3)
Not much has changed on the quarterback front since my last 53-man roster prediction. Both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa are (obviously) roster locks, but the question is who the Dirty Birds will decide on to be their QB3: undrafted rookie Jack Strand or the newly-signed Cooper Rush.
Strand took some first-team reps while both Penix and Tua were out and was generally solid for a guy with no NFL or D1 experience to his name. But Rush comes with a stronger pedigree. He's been a quality backup in this league for years, and keeping him will allow Stefanski to develop Strand on the practice squad.
RBs: Bijan Robinson, Brian Robinson Jr., Tyler Goodson, Nate Carter (4)
The running back room also hasn't seen much change. BIjan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. are going to take the top two spots, but the RB3 battle is in full force. Tyler Goodson, Nate Carter, Cash Jones, and Trey Sermon are all involved, but it seems like there's only one way this will end.
Considering Goodson will help on kick returns, it's safe to assume he'll make the roster. But this is where things get contentious. Do the Falcons really want to roster four running backs? Nobody knows, but if they do, I would point to Carter sticking around for another season. If not. he's gone.
WRs: Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Zachariah Branch, Olamide Zaccheus, Dylan Drummond, Chris Blair (6)
The wide receiver room has four guaranteed spots in Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Zachariah Branch, and Olamide Zaccheus, although Zaccheus may draw the Week 1 start over Branch. That means that several receivers are vying for what I can only assume will be the final two WR spots.
One of those has to go to Chris Blair. He's quietly been one of the standouts of the summer with several highlight plays. However, the spot behind him could go to Juice Wells, who has also been turning heads, or Atlanta could preach continuity and roll with Drummond. Right now I pick continuity.
Undrafted rookie Vinny Anthony II is tied for second on the team with 15 receptions in camp, has been working with the return men, and can be used creatively. He may be on the wrong side of my roster bubble right now, but a strong preseason can change that fairly easily. Nothing is confirmed.
TEs: Kyle Pitts, Austin Hooper, Charlie Woerner (3)
The Falcons are going to run their offense out of 12 personnel fairly easily, and they'll even run 3-TE sets on occasion. So the question isn't which tight ends will make the roster, it's moreso about how many will.
Kyle Pitts, Austin Hooper, and Charlie Woerner are completely safe. If they keep three tight ends, those are the three. But if Stefanski wants to prove his love for the position and roster a fourth, Joshua Simon will push a hard bargain.
OL: Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Ryan Neuzil, Chris Lindstrom, Jawaan Taylor, Wanya Morris, Corey Levin, Kyle Hinton, Michael Jerrell, Ethan Onianwa (10)
The Falcons' offensive line group is mostly set. We know who the five starters will be without any real doubt, but the direction Bill Callahan chooses to go with the depth guys are is up for debate--especially at the tackle spots.
Rookie tackle Ethan Onianwa has been getting more first-team reps at right tackle, but Michael Jerrell was listed as the starter on the unofficial depth chart (since Taylor is still ramping up after his activation). At this point, they'd be smart to roster both of them, since Onianwa can play guard too.
At center James Brockermeyer hype train has started to fizzle out, and Callahan's past ties to Corey Levin give him the edge at backup center behind Ryan Neuzil.
EDGE: Brandon Dorlus, Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, Cameron Thomas, Bralen Trice (5)
I only listed four full-time edge rushers because it's common knowledge by now that James Pearce Jr. is likely facing a lengthy suspension. The Falcons are prepared for it, so my roster prediction should prepare as well.
Ever since Jalon Walker went down, this room looks bleak. Cameron Thomas has stepped in as a starter opposite Samson Ebukam, while Azeez Ojulari and Bralen Trice are set to play key depth roles. Unfortunately, the DeAngelo Malone experiment is about to come to an end in my opinion.
However, Brandon Dorlus has been getting some run with the edge rushers in camp to the point he was listed as an EDGE on the unofficial depth chart. And I think it would be smart for Atlanta DL coach Nate Ollie to take advantage of his versatility.
IDLs: Da'Shawn Hand, Maason Smith, Zach Harrison, LaCale London, Chris Williams (5)
Since Brandon Dorlus is lining up with the edge rushers, the defensive tackle room might look a little different. Zach Harrison is back and he'll take a roster spot, and Maason Smith, Da'Shawn Hand, and La'Cale London are all safe picks as well.
That means that the final spot (if we so please) comes down to Chris Williams, Marlon Tuipolotu, Anterio Thompson, Carlos Allen Jr., and Devonnsha Maxwell. And while Tuipolotu is intriguing, I'll take my chances on the guy who has been in the facility for the longest time in Williams.
LBs: Divine Deablo, Christian Harris, Kendal Daniels, Harold Perkins Jr., JD Bertrand (5)
The linebacker depth has sparked an interesting conversation. Deablo isn't going anywhere as the green dot, and neither is in Harris in all likelihood. And considering the way rookies Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. have pushed for starting roles, that's another two LB spots that are safe.
With Troy Andersen having been released, the direction of this final roster spot is vast. It could be Josh Woods. It could be JD Bertrand. It could be Channing Tindall. And since this means that Bertrand would only be a special teamer, I feel like this competition is his to lose.
CBs: A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes, Avieon Terrell, C.J. Henderson, Darnay Holmes (5)
During my last prediction, we had six cornerbacks on the roster, but I have a weird feeling that Billy Bowman Jr. will begin the season on PUP, which means a different cornerback rotation. Both Terrell brothers and Mike Hughes are roster locks, but the other two spots will go to different names.
Darnay Holmes looks like the early frontrunner to be the starting nickel, but that doesn't say a lot when A.J. Woods has been his main competition. And with the final spot, it came down to C.J. Henderson, Clark Phillips III, and Cobee Bryant, and Henderson has stood out the most this summer.
S: Xavier Watts, Jessie Bates, Sydney Brown, DeMarcco Hellams (4)
The safety room is the complete same as last time, and I don't see a way it changes. Xavier Watts and Jessie Bates are firmly entrenched as the starters, With Bates injured, DeMarcco Hellams has enjoyed a bump to the starting lineup.
The Falcons also gave up a lot to get Sydney Brown--who has split his time between the nickel and safety this summer. Between these four, names like Darren Hall, Natrone Brooks, and Jammie Robinson don't have much merit to make the roster.
Special Teams: Nick Folk, Jake Bailey, Liam McCullough (3)
Weirdly enough, the special teamers are the most set-in-stone of any position on the roster. The ageless wonder Nick Folk and punter Jake Bailey came over with new special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman, so Matthew Hayball is more of a practice squad stash.
And then there's Liam McCullough. The Falcons cut Phil Florenzo, their only other long snapper this week, confirming the inevitable about his job security.
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