The Falcons lost 10 players on defense who played in 9+ games (over half the season) last year and who accounted for 45% of the defensive starts. And yet, somehow there aren't gaping holes to fill. Some upgrades would be nice, but they actually do have a roster in place already. So let's take it by position group and look at the changes. Defensive line: Lost DT Grady Jarrett (17 games, 17 starts), NT Eddie Goldman (17 games, 10 starts), DE James Smith-Williams (10 games, 5 starts). Goldman's return last year was unexpected, and it forced sixth round DT Zion Logue and ex-XFL prospect LaCale London (played 7 games for Atlanta in 2023) to the practice squad. Logue was signed away in midseason, but London returns. Goldman's departure might be the break the big guy needs to crack the roster on a more permanent basis. The Falcons signed DE Morgan Fox to replace Smith-Williams, who is still available in free agency. The difficult replacement is obviously Jarrett, who had been a star for the defense his entire career. Atlanta prepared for his departure last year by drafting Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus. Best guess is Orhorhoro takes over the starting spot next to David Onyemata, while Dorlus joins Kentavius Street in rotation as the primary backups. Edge / Outside Linebacker: Lost Matthew Judon (17 games, 15 starts), Lorenzo Carter (13 games, 11 starts). To replace them, the team signed Leonard Floyd, while last year's third rounder Bralen Trice returns from IR after getting hurt in a preseason game. Is it enough? For better or worse, the most important changes this offseason will likely be the changes in the defensive coaching staff. Jeff Ulbrich replaces fired DC Jimmy Lake. Nate Ollie comes aboard as defensive line coach, and Mike Rutenberg followed Ulbrich to Atlanta from the Jets and will be the team's "defensive pass game coordinator", meaning he'll be leading the efforts to create a pass rush where so many other coaches have failed. Noteworthy: Ollie was with the Colts in 2022-2023, and they finished 10th and then 5th in the league in sacks. Last year he was with the Texans, and they tied for 4th with a franchise-record 49 sacks. Ulbrich and Rutenberg's Jets were the only team to finish in the top five in total defense in each of the last three seasons. If the team didn't add anyone to the edge group, the pass rush would be Floyd, Arnold Ebiketie, Trice, interior linebacker Kaden Elliss lining up outside, and possibly DeAngelo Malone. Throw in Orhorhoro, Dorlus, Ta'Quon Graham and Zach Harrison on the line, and the new coaches will have a lot of young talent to work with. Interior Linebacker: Lost Nate Landman (13 games, 9 starts). Last year the team added Josh Woods (70 career games played, 8 starts) to the practice squad and called him up when Landman was unavailable. He's now the fourth inside linebacker. Troy Andersen and Kaden Elliss should be the starters, with last year's fifth rounder JD Bertrand as the primary backup or in rotation to allow Elliss to bump outside as an edge rusher. Also note that Ulbrich is likely to mix in 4-3 in addition to 3-4, so Bertrand might see action at MLB in those 4-3 looks. DeAngelo Malone might also take snaps as a traditional OLB. Cornerback: Lost: Antonio Hamilton, Sr. (11 games, 0 starts). Added Mike Ford (probably special teams only). This was a lot scarier just a few weeks ago, but Dee Alford (16 games, 11 starts) and Kevin King (15 games, 1 start) recently re-signed. Alford had been solid in rotation for Dean Pees and then for Ryan Nielsen, leading to a starting role under Jimmy Lake. Like many Falcons defenders, he struggled badly in Lake's system, and the team did not tender him as a RFA. But... he's back anyway. My guess is that 2023 fourth rounder Clark Phillips and Mike Hughes join A.J. Terrell as the top three corners, with Alford in rotation behind them and King as a versatile backup. Rising prospect Natrone Brooks also returns. Safety: Lost Justin Simmons (16 games, 16 starts), Richie Grant (17 games, 1 start). Signed Jordan Fuller (57 career games, 55 starts), while DeMarcco Hellams (hurt in preseason, out for year) returns from IR. Simmons was a Pro Bowl safety in 2023, but the Falcons tried to make their players fit the scheme rather than tweaking the scheme to fit the strengths of their players. Simmons struggled, Grant struggled, Alford struggled, Judon struggled, and the team as a whole went from 11th in tackling in 2023 to 26th in 2024. I have to say I'm happy to see Grant sign with the 49ers and get a change of scenery. He had changes in his role and in the scheme throughout his rookie contract. That's not a great way to develop prospects. Cornerback Kevin King also provides additional depth at safety behind starter Jessie Bates, Fuller and Hellams. So... lots of defensive players lost, but the team can already field a complete 25-man defensive roster. Any additions in the draft would be upgrades or advanced preparations for 2026.
