3rd-worst NFL roster heading into the 2022 season: The Atlanta Falcons
Do the Atlanta Falcons have a QB that can raise all boats?
No, and as a matter of fact, I think the Falcons may arguably have the worst quarterback situation in the entire NFL.
Could Marcus Mariota be an intriguing reclamation project? Yes.
Could Desmond Ridder be the next Russell Wilson or Dak Prescott — a mid-round pick that comes in and immediately blows away expectations? Maybe.
The fact of the matter is, you can’t bank on either of those things happening.
As of right now, the Falcons don’t have an answer at the QB position. Just two Spidermans, pointing at each other.
Do the Atlanta Falcons have a roster that can carry their QB while he lives and learns?
Offensively, this could be an interesting question.
The Falcons have a couple of receivers that I would consider to be “QB proof” in 2022 first-round pick Drake London and 2021 first-round tight end Kyle Pitts.
You throw the ball in the vicinity of those guys, they can come down with it.
I also love the pickup of Bryan Edwards to add depth and even more size and athleticism to this unit.
Cordarrelle Patterson showed last season that he could create offense on a weekly basis, but can that continue in 2022?
The Falcons have a lot of high draft choices on the offensive line, so that could end up being a plus.
Defensively, this team has one of the best cornerbacks in the game in AJ Terrell. He’s a superstar but he’s one of the only noteworthy pieces on that side of the ball.
Grady Jarrett is still around but his productivity in terms of sacks, QB hits, TFLs, and pressures all took a dip last season.
The Falcons attempted to catch pass rushers like Pokémon this offseason, grabbing as many as they possibly could to hopefully find some that stick.
That group includes second-round pick Arnold Ebiketie and third-round pick DeAngelo Malone, both super-talented athletes that could start as rookies.
Ultimately, the answer to the question here is no.
Do the Falcons have foundational pieces at OT, CB, EDGE, and WR?
At OT, the Falcons have Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary. I’d say they get a check there.
At CB, AJ Terrell is one of the league’s best and the Falcons also added Casey Hayward this offseason. Check.
Off the edge? The jury is clearly out. The Falcons are searching for pass rush answers.
At WR, I’m going to give the Falcons a check. Kyle Pitts is not technically a WR, but he functions as the WR1 of this offense and I’m extremely high on Drake London.
Despite checking off some of these boxes, some of these players will be dragging along the quarterbacks in Atlanta and this team will be in the market for a new signal-caller in the 2023 NFL Draft or offseason, in all likelihood.