The team hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2017. That’s one reason there’s been a lot of changes for the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. Will there be more?
It’s a franchise that has been subpar the past four seasons. After reaching Super Bowl LI in 2016 and returning to the playoffs a year later, the Atlanta Falcons have posted nothing but losing seasons since. All told, the club owns a disappointing combined 25-40 record over that span.
A year ago, new head coach Arthur Smith led the team to a 7-10 record. What was startling was the team’s point differential for this season – a disturbing minus-146.
This offseason, general manager Terry Fontenot has not only been especially busy signing veteran free agents but made one of 2022’s bigger trades. The team did deal veteran quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts.
Former first-round draft choice Calvin Ridley will be sitting out this season due to suspension. The Falcons used a first-round pick on wide receiver Drake London and have added many players at that position.
But is Fontenot done adding experienced performers? Here are three players that could help Atlanta’s defense.
Atlanta Falcons target no. 3: CB Xavier Rhodes (Indianapolis Colts)
How bad were the Falcons when it came to stopping the opposition this past year? Only the New York Jets (504) and Detroit Lions (467) allowed more points in 2021 than Arthur Smith’s club (459, tied with the Los Angeles Chargers).
Atlanta surrendered 50 offensive touchdowns in 17 outings – 31 of those through the air.
Among the notable additions in the secondary are cornerback Casey Hayward (Raiders) and safety Dean Marlowe (Lions). It’s also worth noting that the Falcons did not select a defensive back in April’s draft.
Three-time Pro Bowler Xavier Rhodes has 13 interceptions in nine seasons. He’s also amassed an impressive 92 passes defensed.
Atlanta Falcons target no. 2: ILB Joe Schobert (Released by Pittsburgh Steelers)
With Deion Jones somewhat of a question mark (see ESPN’s Michael Rothstein), could GM Terry Fontenot look to add another experienced linebacker whose forte is pass coverage? Joe Schobert has been in the news lately.
He recently visited the Saints (via Nick Underhill) and comes off a season in which he totaled 112 tackles for the Pittsburgh Steelers – the second-most on the club.
Ironically, the former member of the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars was part of a unit in 2021 that allowed the most rushing yards in the league. That’s not Schobert’s forte, rather his strength is in pass coverage.
Along with those aforementioned stops, the six-year pro finished with one interception and six passes defensed this past year.
This offseason, the Falcons added former Tennessee Titans’ first-round pick Rashaan Evans, who is very familiar with coordinator Dean Pees’ system. And he was part of a defense in 2021 that allowed the second-most rushing yards in the league.
Meanwhile, only five teams in the league allowed more rushing yards than the Falcons did this past season.
Of course, Schobert would add a different dimension to this unit. And his experience could prove to be very valuable to an Atlanta linebacking corps that has its share of youth.
Atlanta Falcons target no. 1: DE Carlos Dunlap (Released by Seattle Seahawks)
The term “pass rush” is made up of two four-letter words. And that’s somewhat appropriate considering the Atlanta Falcons have had a frustrating time mastering this aspect of the game of football.
You have to go all the way back to the 2004 season to find the last time this franchise finished with at least 40 sacks in a season.
This past season, the club finished dead last in quarterback traps – finishing with a dismal 18 sacks in 17 contests. That’s 4.5 fewer than Pittsburgh Steelers’ outside linebacker and NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt (22.5).
It was also fewer than Chicago Bears’ edge-rusher Robert Quinn (18.5). Atlanta’s top sack artist in 2021 was Dante Fowler Jr. (4.0), now a member of the Dallas Cowboys.
It would not hurt if the team took a shot at adding 12-year veteran Carlos Dunlap, who knows a little something about corralling opposing quarterbacks. He played in all 17 games with the Seahawks this past season and paced Pete Carroll’s club with 8.5 quarterback traps.
The two-time Pro Bowler, who began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, has racked up 96.0 sacks in a dozen NFL campaigns.