The Falcons ignored their salary cap woes during the 2020 offseason, doing everything they could to add talent and make one last run at getting back to the Super Bowl. Somehow, Atlanta found a way to sign free-agent DE Dante Fowler Jr. to a three-year, $48 million contract in an effort to fix the team’s anemic pass rush.
Fowler, the third-overall pick back in 2015, was coming off of a career-high 11.5 sacks and 34 pressures with the Rams last season. With just one year of top-level production over his first five NFL seasons, the Falcons took a big risk by signing the 26-year-old to such a lucrative deal.
That risk may already be backfiring on the team, as Fowler has just two sacks and 21 tackles (10 solo) in 2020. Frequently injured this season, the former Florida Gator hasn’t been much of a factor during his 13 games in Atlanta.
Interim coach Raheem Morris wasn’t going to sugarcoat it on Wednesday afternoon, telling the media that Fowler’s first season with the team hasn’t been good enough. As laid out in an article by Falcons beat reporter Kesley Conway, Morris explained why Fowler’s low sack totals are a relevant criticism of the young edge rusher.
“What hasn’t been good enough is he hasn’t had his sack numbers,” Morris said. “In order to play in this profession, you have to be known for something. If you’re going to be known for getting sacks, you have to go out and get sacks and you have to be consistent and you have to be consistent with your effort.”
Sacks tend to be one of the most overrated NFL statistics, but in the case of Fowler, he was signed specifically to be a consistent pass-rushing threat off of the edge. To Fowler’s credit, though, he didn’t dispute Morris’ claims. As shared by Conway on Twitter below, Fowler admitted that he has not played up to his standard this year.
Dante Fowler says he respects Raheem Morris 100 percent and he loves the way he coaches. He said he hit it on the head, it "wasn't good enough this year."
— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) December 30, 2020
Dante Fowler: My standard is to be a double-digit sack guy. I was injured but that's no excuse. I don't feel like I played up to my standard.
— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) December 30, 2020
The Falcons have Fowler under contract for two more years, so it’s best the team tries to salvage the situation heading into 2021.
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