3 factors that could make or break the Falcons in 2020

No NFL team is without flaws when the season begins, although some have more concerns than others.

Third receiving option?

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Mohamed Sanu was one of the best No. 3 receivers in the league, but the team made the right call by shipping him to New England for a second-round pick last season. With Pro Bowl tight end Austin Hooper now in Cleveland, the Falcons don’t have a clear No. 3 receiving option behind Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. The team acquired tight end Hayden Hurst from the Ravens, and the former first-round pick is expected to play a big role in Dirk Koetter’s offense.

If Hurst struggles, though, Atlanta could look to young receivers Russell Gage and Olamide Zaccheaus to fill the void in the slot. Gage, a 2018 sixth-round pick, finished last season with career bests of 49 catches, 446 yards and one touchdown. The Falcons also signed former first-round pick Laquon Treadwell, who can provide depth at the very least. Still, someone in this group is going to have to step up big in 2020.

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