Atlanta Falcons Depth Chart
- NFC South
- Stadium
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Head Coach
- Arthur Smith
- Offensive Coordinator
- Dave Ragone
- Defensive Coordinator
- Dean Pees
- Special Teams Coach
- Marquice Williams
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
The Atlanta Falcons released starting safety Ricardo Allen and defensive end Allen Bailey on Thursday, according to a source. The Falcons will save $6.25 million against a tight salary cap by cutting Allen. The 29-year-old is a leader when he's on the field, but he played in only 12 games in 2020 and missed all but three games due to injury in 2018. Allen recorded 25 tackles last season and does have four interceptions the last two seasons with Atlanta. Bailey, who will turn 32 in March, has been a steady veteran on the defensive line the last two years, but the Falcons are looking for more in the pass-rush department after he compiled just 2.5 sacks in 31 games (nine starts) in 2019 and 2020.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Hayden Hurst could be a beneficiary of new head coach Arthur Smith's offensive scheme in 2021. Hurst was a popular breakout pick heading into last season's fantasy drafts- it didn't exactly work out that way- though he still had a fine season, totaling career-highs in every receiving category and developing a nice rapport with quarterback Matt Ryan in the process. Smith's offenses in Tennessee often delivered a healthy share of targets to the tight end position- a combined 118 to Jonnu Smith and Anthony Firkser last season- utilizing the play-action passing game. Hurst may go under-the-radar in drafts this fall but has the tools to thrive in the Falcons' new offense, which could make him a value pick.
The Atlanta Falcons are not expected to trade quarterback Matt Ryan this offseason, according to sources. "The Falcons have not had any trade conversations about Ryan or their star wide receiver Julio Jones. And every expectation is both players are going to be on the roster in 2021," NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said. New head coach Arthur Smith plans to run a similar offense to the one Kyle Shanahan used when Ryan won MVP in 2016. Atlanta would be on the hook for more than $44 million in dead money in 2021 if they traded Ryan before June 1. Atlanta may decide to take Ryan's heir-apparent at No. 4 overall in the draft, but the 35-year-old signal-caller is expected to stay put for at least another season. Ryan and Jones got it going to end the regular season and could be in line for bounce-back campaigns under Smith in 2021. Consider Ryan a midrange QB1 heading into next season.
The Atlanta Falcons officially named Terry Fontenot as their new general manager on Tuesday. Fontenot spent the last 18 years of his career with the New Orleans Saints, most recently completing his first season as the team's vice president/assistant general manager for pro personnel. He initially got his foot in the door as a marketing intern with the Saints. New Orleans won Super Bowl XLIV in 2009 and has claimed seven NFC South titles in the last 15 years while Fontenot was around. Fontenot will now move to a Falcons team that has not been to the playoffs since 2017. He will be replacing Thomas Dimitroff, who was fired during the 2020 season. Fontenot will be working with new head coach Arthur Smith, with one of the main priorities being to figure out whether quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones are part of the organization's immediate future.
The Atlanta Falcons have officially hired former Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as the team's new head coach. Smith helped revitalize quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the Falcons passing game over the past two years while also making the run game unstoppable with Derrick Henry. The Falcons don't have a Henry-type, but Matt Ryan could benefit greatly from Smith's guidance, as will whoever enters 2021 as the team's lead running back.