Falcons offseason primer: Change afoot, QB question lingers
Feb 5, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot pose for the media after Morris was introduced as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. credits: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports 2023 record: 7-10
Projected salary cap space: $29.1 million
Offseason storylines: Yes, Atlanta went 7-10 for the third consecutive season. But are the Falcons a few sharp turns away from the passing lane in the NFC South? Consider the club lost five games in the final minute by a total of 16 points.
New sheriff in town Raheem Morris plans to build a defense capable of striking fear into opposing quarterbacks. That philosophy will dictate some of the team's spending and perhaps the plan with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. But there's the significant rub of Atlanta remaining unsettled at quarterback. Desmond Ridder didn't take the bull by the horns, part of the reason Arthur Smith was canned.
Team Needs: QB, DE, WR, DT, OL
The top defensive player in the draft could potentially be available to the Falcons because of an expected grab at the QB, WR and OT spots. Atlanta should be in a great spot to get the player it wants without moving up. At wide receiver, moving tight end Kyle Pitts could be an option considering every player at the position not named Drake London can leave in free agency.
Top free agent: LB Bud Dupree - Tied for the team lead in 2023 with 6.5 sacks, Dupree fits the mold of edge rusher who've thrived under Morris such as Leonard Floyd (Rams) and won't likely strike it rich elsewhere.
Unrestricted free agents (as of March 13):
DE Calais Campbell
OLB Lorenzo Carter
OLB Bud Dupree
CB Tre Flowers
DE Joe Gaziano
WR KhaDarel Hodge
WR Mack Hollins
WR Van Jefferson
DE LaCale London
WR Scotty Miller
CB Jeff Okudah
RB Cordarrelle Patterson
TE MyCole Pruitt
FB Keith Smith
QB Logan Woodside
—Field Level Media