Who is the most underappreciated player on the Falcons’ roster?

The Atlanta Falcons have plenty of talent on their roster, but people tend to focus mostly on players like Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson. While the future is undoubtedly bright for this offensive trio, the team has other talented players who don’t get the credit they deserve.

CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr recently broke down each team’s most underappreciated player going into the 2024 NFL season. Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss was Kerr’s choice for Atlanta:

Perhaps Elliss was an excellent scheme fit for former defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, but he played a massive role in the Falcons’ defensive turnaround last year. Elliss only rushed the passer 95 times last season and notched 26 pressures (pressure rate of 27.4%), while finishing with six quarterback hits and four sacks.

Elliss played a mix of off-ball linebacker and pass rusher, making hm valuable as a hybrid player in today’s NFL. He finished with 122 tackles (82 solo), helping the Falcons defense improve from 29th in points allowed per possession (2.27) and 31st in yards allowed per possession (36.2) to 15th (1.86) and seventh (28.0). — Jeff Kerr, CBS Sports

As Kerr highlighted, Elliss worked well with Ryan Nielson as defensive coordinator last season. Now that Nielsen is gone, Elliss must adapt to Jimmy Lake’s defensive scheme, which may be a bit of an adjustment.

The veteran linebacker is a good choice, but what other players are being overlooked on this Falcons roster?

One player who fans may be sleeping on is wide receiver Rondale Moore. The team acquired Moore in a rare player-for-player trade that sent quarterback Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals.

Moore never produced elite numbers with the Cardinals but with an established quarterback in Kirk Cousins, the 24-year-old has a chance to thrive in Atlanta.

Last season, Moore totaled 352 yards on 40 receptions, both of which were career lows despite playing in all 17 games. The Falcons’ offensive line is one of the best run-blocking units in the NFL, but pass protection remains a question mark.

With that in mind, we expect to see more quick passes in 2024. This bodes well for Moore, who plays primarily in the slot, as he could see an uptick in targets and production.

As defenses focus on Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson, Moore will have every chance to succeed this season. It’s up to the young receiver to take advantage of his opportunities.

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