5 moves the Atlanta Falcons can make to become Super Bowl contenders

NFL Picks; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (4) drops back to pass against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
NFL Picks; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (4) drops back to pass against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
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Atlanta Falcons
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 22: Samson Ebukam #56 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes the quarterback during an NFL divisional round playoff football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

3. Double down on pass-rushers in free agency

With just 21 sacks in the 2022 season and 18 in 2021, Quarterbacks sat comfortably in the pocket against the Atlanta Falcons. Needless to say, the Dirty Birds desperately need a defensive boost. One guy that makes sense is 49ers edge rusher Samson Ebukam.

At first glance, Ebukam isn’t a big named player, but he played an important role in the league’s best defense. However, the 49ers’ edge rusher has the potential to be a double-digit sack guy in the right situation, and that’s with the Falcons.

Ebukam’s back-to-back seasons with 45 quarterback pressures make him an ideal candidate to bolster Atlanta’s defense. Plus, his versatility as a “tweener” between outside linebacker and defensive end gives him the flexibility to fit into any potential defensive changes under the new coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

With 51 defensive stops in the last two seasons, Ebukam is more than just a pure pass-rusher. The 27-year-old’s experience with both the Rams and the 49ers gives him a wealth of knowledge and skills that could be invaluable to the Falcons. Pair him with Lorenzo Carter, who they need to bring back, and you’ll have two solid edge rushers that can move around the front seven. Couple that with Marcus Davenport as a top free-agent target and you have a recipe for a dominant front seven.