Bud Dupree and Calais Campbell are unsigned, while Jeff Okudah has moved on. All three played at least half of the defensive snaps last season, meaning three starters need to be replaced. Among the reserves, Albert Huggins played 27% of snaps in the interior D-line rotation, while CB Tre Flowers played 17% of snaps in defensive packages (and 70% of special teams snaps). Both are still unsigned as well. Still, the team already has a full lineup in place, along with most of the depth pieces. The catch is that it includes several players from recent drafts stepping up into larger roles and more players successfully returning from injuries. And there's also the issue that the team now has its third defensive coordinator in three seasons. Will the returning players, particularly the young prospects specifically brought in for Dean Pees or Ryan Nielsen, be good fits for Raheem Morris and Jimmy Lake? Let's start with what we do know. DC Jimmy Lake has said the team will play a base 3-4. Dan Quinn had used a "4-3 under" scheme that incorporated elements of a single-gap 3-4 system. Dean Pees had played a base 3-4. Ryan Nielsen moved to more of a hybrid system last year. The bigger question is how Lake will handle nickel and dime formations, as the team will be in those packages for 65% or more of defensive snaps. Whether he will stay in a 3-man front or shift to a 4-man front in packages remains to be seen. On the edges, Lorenzo Carter is still here, and 2022 second rounder Arnold Ebiketie is developing well along with last year's fourth rounders Zach Harrison. He should be ready to step into a starting role. 2021 fifth rounder Ade Ogundeji missed last season with an injury, while 2022 third rounder DeAngelo Malone was a mainstay on special teams but was not used on defense. In the interior, Grady Jarrett is reportedly making good progress in his recovery. David Onyemata will certainly anchor one spot along the line. TaQuon Graham had stepped into a starting role before his season-ending injury in 2022, and he spent 2023 working his way back into form. The team traded for Kentavius Street in mid-season, and he played heavily in five games before his season ended with a pectoral injury. He re-signed, so he will at least be a key piece in the rotation. There are still three other prospects in the organization, but run-stuffer Timmy Horne was signed away from the practice squad in December. At this point there isn't anyone in the DL group who lists above 305 pounds, so it wouldn't be surprising to see a trade, free agency move, or mid-round draft pick used to grab a run-stuffer to add to the mix. Interior linebacker gets interesting. 2022 second rounder Troy Andersen emerged as a starter, but then he got hurt and missed nearly all of the 2023 season. In his absence, Nate Landman also emerged as a capable starter. The team resigned Landman, and Andersen is set to return from IR. Meanwhile, they also signed Kaden Elliss as a free agent last season, giving them three starting ILBs for two ILB positions. If they want to have all three on the field together, one clear solution is to put Elliss on the outside as an edge rusher. That's how New Orleans used him towards the end of the 2022 season, and he racked up six sacks in seven games on the edge. There isn't much in the way of depth behind them though, as Mykal Walker was a surprise release last summer, last year's free agent Tae Davis didn't last the season, and rising prospect Andre Smith is now a free agent (still unsigned). One potential twist is that Walker bounced around practice squads after his release last year and is now a free agent himself. He was drafted by Atlanta in 2020 and played his best football that season - when Raheem Morris was defensive coordinator. He would be a cheap free agent addition at this point. I'm not expecting it, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him return. The secondary features Jesse Bates and Richie Grant at safety with A.J. Terrell, Clark Phillips, Dee Alford and Mike Hughes at cornerback. Throw in last year's late rounder DeMarcco Hellams as an extra safety/dime back and three other returning prospects, and that group is already pretty solid. There's room for one or two more, but it is an area of strength for the roster, not a need. So the potential is there, but the questions are there too... can Grady Jarrett, TaQuon Graham and Troy Andersen play like beasts the way they did before their injuries? Can Arnold Ebiketie, Clark Phillips and DeMarcco Hellams step up into larger roles? Can DeAngelo Malone and Ade Ogundeji turn it around and have more success under Morris and Lake? Will Nate Landman and Dee Alford have the same kind of success in the new system that they did under Ryan Nielsen? The draft will give us a hint of what the front office is thinking, but I suspect that late free agency will also be a factor in the back end of the roster.
Falcons ought to resign Calais Campbell... His leadership would be ideal and he still can play. Morris likes him to, and I think reading between the lines, he wants him on the football team.
Oh, there's no question that the team wants him. Morris has been keeping in touch. It's totally Campbell's decision whether he wants to retire (age 38) or keep playing. If he does want to play another year, he basically has a standing offer from Atlanta.
I had to go back and read the blue highlighted section, when I saw you said it was Campbells decision, for a second my mind thought what does Tim have to do with this?
