FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons still could make some offseason personnel changes through free agency or the trade market, but the conclusion of the NFL Draft means at least the broad outlines of the 2025 roster are in place. This Falcons unit differs from the 2024 version mostly on defense, where Atlanta invested most of its free-agency dollars and draft picks. Here’s an overview of the entire unit.
(* — rookie)
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Quarterback
Starter: Michael Penix Jr.
On the roster: Kirk Cousins, Easton Stick, Emory Jones
The Falcons will continue to listen to, and probably solicit, trade offers for Cousins, but it’s probably time to start considering the possibility that he is their backup quarterback this season. The problem with the plan is that it could mean the Falcons would have the unhappiest backup quarterback in the league, which is an issue that can cause all sorts of problems for a team. What would be certain is that they would have the best backup quarterback in the league, and that has value.
Fifty-nine quarterbacks started a game during the 2024 NFL season. Less than half the league’s starters (14) played in every game for their team. Only 19 teams got at least 15 starts from their top quarterback for reasons ranging from injury to ineffectiveness.
Having a quality backup quarterback would be especially comforting for the Falcons because Penix suffered four consecutive season-ending injuries in college. They could be putting themselves at risk going into the season with Stick as the top backup. He was 0-4 in fill-in duty for Justin Herbert in Los Angeles in 2023 and was 32nd in the league in EPA per dropback (minus-.10) in that season, according to TruMedia.
Running back
Starter: Bijan Robinson
On the roster: Tyler Allgeier, Nathan Carter*, Elijah Dotson, Jase McClellan, Carlos Washington Jr.
Robinson is third in the NFL in scrimmage yards (3,350), fourth in rushing yards (2,432) and tied for eighth in rushing touchdowns (18) since joining the league two seasons ago. Last season, he took 304 of the team’s 495 carries, which was 90 more than in his rookie season. The Falcons’ coaching staff has promised it will always be cognizant of Robinson’s workload, but it’s clear they plan to get him the ball a lot.
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Allgeier, meanwhile, has seen his carries drop in each of his three seasons, from 210 as a rookie to 186 in 2023 and 137 last year. He was 10th in the league last season among running backs with 4.7 yards per carry. Robinson was seventh at 4.8 yards per carry. Washington will enter training camp as the No. 3 back. McClellan, a sixth-round pick in 2024, had only 13 carries as a rookie.
Wide receiver
Starters: Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud
On the roster: Jamal Agnew, Chris Blair, Phillip Dorsett II, Dylan Drummond, KhaDarel Hodge, Jesse Matthews, Nick Nash*, Makai Pope, David Sills V, Quincy Skinner Jr.*, Casey Washington
There aren’t a lot of questions in the wide receivers room. London, Mooney and McCloud played 2,844 of the Falcons’ 3,099 receiver snaps last season, according to TruMedia, and there’s no reason to think that workload is going to change much in 2025. Hodge, who was the No. 4 wide receiver last year and played 231 offensive snaps, returns after a brief foray into free agency, but Atlanta hasn’t added anyone significant. Washington, who played nine snaps as a rookie, could earn more playing time this year.
Tight end
Starter: Kyle Pitts
On the roster: Feleipe Franks, Nikola Kalinic, Teagan Quitoriano, Joshua Simon*, Charlie Woerner
It wasn’t a no-brainer to list Pitts as the starter here. He played 707 snaps to Woerner’s 457 last year. From Week 13 to Week 18, though, Woerner played 25 snaps than Pitts. Add in the lukewarm comments from general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris about Pitts this offseason, and that all suggests the fifth-year tight end is entering a critical season. If he doesn’t start fast, he might lose this starting job before the season is finished.
Offensive line
Starters: Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Jovaughn Gwyn, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary
On the roster: Brandon Parker, Kilian Zierer, Matthew Cindric, Joey Fisher, Joshua Gray*, Kyle Hinton, Jack Nelson*, Storm Norton, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Elijah Wilkinson, Jordan Williams*
It seems odd that the projected starter at center — Ryan Neuzil — is not on the roster at the moment. Neuzil remains a free agent, and the Falcons have the right to match any offer he receives. Gwyn would seem to be the next option at center, but Cindric and Gray, who just signed as an undrafted free agent, were college centers as well.
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Defensive line
Starters: Morgan Fox, Zach Harrison, David Onyemata
On the roster: Junior Aho, Simeon Barrow Jr.*, Brandon Dorlus, Ta’Quon Graham, Ruke Orhorhoro, Kentavius Street
The 2014 season was the last time Grady Jarrett wasn’t listed with this group, but he’s suiting up for the Bears now. Fox, a free-agent signee, has started 28 games on the defensive line in the last four seasons. Harrison started only one game last year but appears on the verge of a bigger role. Onyemata is the only sure starter among this group. Orhorhoro and Dorlus, both 2024 draft picks, enter critical seasons after playing sparingly last year.
Outside linebacker
Starters: Leonard Floyd, Jalon Walker*
On the roster: Arnold Ebiketie, Khalid Kareem, DeAngelo Malone, James Pearce Jr.*, Bralen Trice
If the Falcons can’t finish higher than 31st in the NFL in sacks this year, then their pass rush problem may actually be a curse. The Falcons added Floyd through free agency and Walker and Pearce in the first round of the draft. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said Walker, who can play multiple positions, will start at edge, and he could open the season in the starting lineup if he shows he can hold up as a run defender at 245 pounds.
Ebiketie, who has had six sacks in each of the last two seasons, enters his fourth season with something to prove and probably considers that starting spot we’re giving to Walker his. Trice was a third-round pick in 2024 but missed the season because of a torn ACL.
Inside linebacker
Starters: Divine Deablo, Kaden Elliss
On the roster: Troy Andersen, JD Bertrand, Nick Kubitz*, Malik Verdon*, Josh Woods
Elliss led the Falcons in tackles (151) and quarterback hurries (16) and was second in tackles for loss (eight) and third in sacks (five) last season. Deablo was signed in free agency after starting 29 games for the Raiders over the last two seasons. Andersen is the X-factor. Atlanta’s second-round draft pick in 2022, he has flashed startling athletic talent but has played only nine games in the last two seasons because of injury. The steady Bertrand will push him to be the No. 3 linebacker in the middle.
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Safety
Starters: Jessie Bates III, Jordan Fuller
On the roster: Billy Bowman Jr.*, DeMarcco Hellams, Benny Sapp III, Xavier Watts*
After signing the veteran Fuller in free agency, the Falcons drafted Watts in the third round and talked like he could end up taking the starting job. Watts led the FBS with 13 interceptions in the last two seasons, and a team that finished 17th in the league in interceptions (12) last year could use more ballhawks in the secondary. Bowman was a college safety but could end up being a nickel cornerback in Atlanta. Hellams is returning from a season-ending ankle injury suffered in the 2024 preseason.
Cornerback
Starters: Mike Hughes, A.J. Terrell
On the roster: Dee Alford, Natrone Brooks, Cobee Bryant*, Mike Ford Jr., Lamar Jackson, Kevin King, Dontae Manning*, Clark Phillips III, Keith Taylor
Atlanta finished 27th in defensive EPA per dropback (minus-.12) last season and is bringing back the same cornerback group. Morris hopes that a new defensive coordinator and another year in his zone system will mean better play. Hughes will have to hold off Phillips for the starting outside spot, but there’s no reason to think he won’t after he did it all of last season. That would leave Phillips, Alford and the rookie Bowman fighting for nickel snaps.
Specialists
Starters: K Younghoe Koo, P Bradley Pinion, LS Liam McCullough
On the roster: K Lenny Krieg
The only intrigue here is whether Krieg can supplant Koo. Krieg came to the Falcons through the International Player Pathway Program (which is why he doesn’t count against the 90-man roster limit). He hit 19 of 26 field goal attempts in two seasons with the Stuttgart Surge of the EFL, with a long of 52 yards. Koo is coming off his worst season as a professional. He hit just 73.5 percent of his kicks and finished the season on the injured list.
(Photo of Jalon Walker: Ken Ruinard / USA Today)
This news was originally published on this post .
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