Tag: Falcons pass rushers

Former Georgia Bulldog LB returning to the Atlanta Falcons

Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Lorenzo Carter is back in Atlanta on a two-year deal

Former Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter is reportedly returning to the Atlanta Falcons on a two-year deal. Carter is one of the Falcons’ top pass rushers.

Carter signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons last offseason. Carter has 18.5 career sacks in his five-season NFL career.

Carter is expected to continue have a large role with the Falcons in 2023. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound outside linebacker is expected to start for Atlanta. Carter has all the physical traits to succeed.

The Falcons need to have a stronger pass rush. Atlanta had the fewest sacks in the NFL over the past two seasons (39 total sacks). The Falcons finished with only 21 sacks last year, which was No. 31 in the NFL.

Carter was the Falcons’ second-leading sack man in 2022. Carter finished the season with four sacks, which was only behind defensive end Grady Jarrett. Carter also recorded 58 total tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown in his first season with the Falcons.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta addressed the edge rusher position in the 2022 NFL draft. The Falcons selected Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie in the second round and Western Kentucky edge rusher DeAngelo Malone in the third round.

However, the Falcons need more pass rushers: 21 sacks in a season is not going to cut it in the NFL. Atlanta needs to continue to bolster its pass rush after signing Lorenzo Carter. You can never have too many pass rushers in the NFL.

An improved defense would go a long way toward helping the Falcons compete for a division crown in the wide-open NFC South.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news that Carter was returning to the Falcons on a two-year contract. The Falcons shared Lorenzo Carter’s official contract signing. Carter is wearing a nice looking jacket:

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz2y40j067srkf player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Former Georgia Bulldog will play critical role in Falcons’ defense

Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Lorenzo Carter is expected to be the top edge rusher for the Atlanta Falcons next season

Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Lorenzo Carter signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. Carter, a former New York Giant, has 14.5 career sacks in his four season NFL career.

Carter is expected to have a large role with the Falcons in 2022. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound outside linebacker is expected to start for Atlanta. Carter has all the physical traits to succeed. Atlanta’s 2021 sack leader, Dante Fowler (4.5 sacks), left the team in free agency. Now, the Falcons are looking for pass rushers to step up.

Atlanta addressed the edge rusher position in the 2022 NFL draft. The Falcons selected Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie in the second round and Western Kentucky edge rusher DeAngelo Malone in the third round. Still, Atlanta needs more production from veterans.

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Lorenzo Carter is the most experienced and talented edge rusher on the team. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

If the Falcons want to improve defensively, they must have a stronger pass rush. Atlanta had 18 sacks last season, by far the fewest of any team in the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles (29 sacks) were the only other team to record fewer than 30 sacks.

Atlanta outside linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji will also compete for playing time, but Ogundeji is young and recorded one sack during his rookie season in 2021. That’s why it will be critical for Carter to disrupt opposing quarterbacks this season.

The Falcons are in the middle of a rebuild on both sides of the football. Atlanta will be much more fun to watch in 2022 if it can get more production from its pass rush and Carter.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]