Falcons have telling offseason ahead of them
The Atlanta Falcons were one of the favorites to reach Super Bowl LIII this season. Then, in the opening game of the NFL slate, Deion Jones and Keanu Neal went down. The dream of participating as the host team in the Super Bowl was largely gone.
Atlanta stumbled to a 6-10 mark in head coach Dan Quinn’s third campaign, and now a critical offseason lays ahead. The Falcons have already released cornerback Robert Alford and kicker Matt Bryant, with the former already locking up a three-year deal worth upwards of $7 million per season with the Arizona Cardinals.
Beyond the losses of Alford and Bryant, Atlanta also must contend with the notion that Grady Jarrett and Derrick Shelby could be lost from the defensive line. On the offensive side, running back Tevin Coleman is an unrestricted free agent as well.
Looking at the salary cap, the Falcons have approximately $26.6 million of space after the aforementioned releases. Once minimum salaries get factored in along with the incoming draft class, general manager Thomas Dimitroff really has somewhere between $10-15 million to use on free agents, with every team typically holding a few million in case of emergency during training camp and/or the regular season.
Should the Falcons decide to retain Jarrett, that likely means that Shelby walks and Coleman becomes a luxury with the presence of Devonta Freeman. However, with both free agency and the draft so rich in defensive front talent, perhaps Dimitroff decides to keep Coleman as a sidekick to Freeman, all while opening up some space to use elsewhere on the roster.
Regardless, Atlanta faces tough decisions that could shape the future of the franchise. Matt Ryan is only two years removed from being the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, but at 33 years old (and turning 34 in May), the Falcons must figure out how to best utilize his remaining prime seasons.
With the New Orleans Saints remaining a favorite to win the NFC, Atlanta won’t have an easy path back to the NFC South penthouse. The Falcons are going to need a quality draft that produces multiple starters, especially of Jarrett leaves for a massive deal elsewhere.
After a year that was marred by injuries, the Falcons have a chance to bounce back and be one of the contenders in the NFC. Atlanta is teeming with potential, boasting a roster that includes Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Mohamed Sanu, Vic Beasley Jr., Takk McKinley, Neal, Jones, Freeman and others.
Now, Dimitroff faces brutal decisions that could either sink Atlanta, or bring it back into its contention window.
