Tag: “News”

Looking at pro comparisons for potential Falcons draft targets

Looking at Touchdown Wire’s player comparisons for several potential Falcons draft targets.

Usually by the week of the NFL draft, most analysts have a pretty good idea of how the top 10 will unfold. However, the 2022 draft appears to be an exception as we are three days away without a clear favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick.

The uncertainty at the top of the draft leaves the door open for a number of different prospects when the Falcons are on the clock at pick No. 8. Fortunately, our friends Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield at Touchdown Wire have provided player comparisons for the top 50 prospects in the draft.

Let’s take a look at TD Wire’s comps for some potential Falcons draft targets.

Falcons draft wide receiver, two LBs in Mel Kiper’s new mock

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Falcons drafting a wide receiver and two linebackers in his new mock.

If you aren’t a fan of mock drafts, it’s probably best to stay away from most NFL sites for the next couple of weeks. The 2022 NFL draft kicks off on April 28, which is over two weeks away, and the mocks are starting to fly in.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid released a full seven-round mock on Monday, and on Wednesday, Mel Kiper dropped a new two-round mock. The two ESPN colleagues have the Atlanta Falcons going in two different directions.

Reid projected Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton to Atlanta in round one, while Kiper has the team drafting a wide receiver. Here’s a look at the three Falcons selections from Kiper’s mock.

Projecting the Falcons offensive starters after recent signings

Predicting the Atlanta Falcons offensive starters after the first wave of free agency.

For the first time since 2007, the Atlanta Falcons will enter the season with someone other than Matt Ryan at quarterback. Not only is Ryan out, wide receiver Russell Gage is in Tampa Bay, Hayden Hurst is in Cincinnati and Calvin Ridley has been suspended for a full season.

The Falcons have made a few moves, but we won’t have a complete picture of the 2022 roster until the draft is over. Here’s our projection of team’s starting offense after the first wave of free agency.

Falcons sign veteran safety Dean Marlowe to one-year contract

One week after re-signing Erik Harris, the Falcons have added another veteran safety to the mix.

One week after bringing back Erik Harris, the Atlanta Falcons have added another veteran safety to the mix, signing Dean Marlowe to a one-year contract on Thursday afternoon.

Marlowe, 29, has played for three different teams (Carolina, Buffalo and Detroit) since making his debut for the Panthers in 2015.

In 2021, Marlowe played in 16 games for the Lions with nine starts. He finished the season with 67 tackles (37 solo), two QB hits, two passes defended and a fumble recovery.

For his career, Marlowe has appeared in 47 games, starting in 16 total since 2015. Pro Football Focus gave the veteran safety a coverage grade of 63 last season, and a tackle grade of 81.9.

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Falcons to work out former 1st-round pick Rashaan Evans

Evans, a first-round pick in 2018 started 50 games for the Titans, racking up 316 tackles (195 solo), 38 pressures, four sacks and two INTs

Linebacker Foye Oluokun was the first member of last year’s Falcons team to find a new home, signing a three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars at the start of free agency.

That leaves Deion Jones, who didn’t have a great season in Dean Pees’ 3-4 scheme, and third-year linebacker Mykal Walker as the defense’s two starting inside linebackers. Although, that could soon change.

It was reported on Tuesday morning by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Atlanta will meet with former Titans first-round pick Rashaan Evans.

Evans, 25, was taken with the 22nd overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Alabama. During his four seasons in Tennessee, Evans started 50 of the 59 games he appeared in, racking up 316 tackles (195 solo), 38 pressures, four sacks and two interceptions.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith and defensive coordinator Dean Pees worked with Evans in Tennessee. A reunion in Atlanta would make sense for both parties.

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Falcons sign wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge

On Friday, the Atlanta Falcons signed free-agent wideout KhaDarel Hodge to a one-year deal.

The Atlanta Falcons have been losing receivers at an alarming rate this offseason. First, Calvin Ridley was suspended, then Russell Gage signed with the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Rookie tight end Kyle Pitts had a great season, but Marcus Mariota is going to need a lot more help at the receiver position next season. On Friday, the Falcons signed free-agent wideout KhaDarel Hodge to a one-year deal.

Marcus Mariota will wear the No. 1 for the Falcons

Marcus Mariota said he won’t be asking Kyle Pitts to switch jersey numbers, and said he intends to instead wear the No. 1 in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Falcons signed former Titans and Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota on Monday, and on Friday, Mariota met with the media in Atlanta for the first time.

Among the things he was asked about was his jersey number. Mariota, a former Heisman Trophy winner, has worn the No. 8 since his time at Oregon. Unfortunately, Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts already wears the No. 8. Mariota said he won’t be asking Pitts to switch jersey numbers.

Instead, Atlanta’s new starting QB will switch to the No. 1 to start his Falcons career.

Check out Mariota’s full press conference, as shared by the Falcons’ Twitter account.

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Falcons promote T.J. Yates, hire four assistants

T.J. Yates, who served as the Falcons’ passing-game specialist in 2021, will take over as the wide receivers coach.

The Falcons appear to be making an entire offseason’s worth of moves in 24 hours.

After trading Matt Ryan, signing Marcus Mariota and re-signing Cordarrelle Patterson, the team made several notable changes to the coaching staff on Tuesday afternoon.

T.J. Yates, who served as the team’s passing-game specialist in 2021, will take over as wide receivers coach. Atlanta also promoted intern Mario Jeberaeel to assistant offensive line coach, and hired four new assistants.

Nick Edwards was hired as an offensive assistant and the Falcons will make Steve Jackson a senior offensive assistant.

Steven King was brought on as a diversity coaching intern and will work with the special teams units. And lastly, Shawn Flaherty will serve as a football analyst.

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Matt Ryan trade creates largest dead cap hit in NFL history

The Falcons trading Matt Ryan incurs a dead cap hit of $40.525 million, the largest in NFL history.

The cash-strapped Atlanta Falcons had been working around Matt Ryan’s monster contract for years, but after Monday’s trade — which sent Ryan to the Colts for a 2022 third-round pick — the team can finally begin to plan for the future.

Unfortunately, trading Ryan will comes with a dead cap hit of $40.525 million, the largest in NFL history.

On the bright side, the Falcons will clear over $9 million in cap space for free agency as the team looks for a new starting quarterback.Per Over The Cap’s projections, the Falcons have $8,459,664 in cap space available after the Ryan trade.

It’s already being reported that Atlanta is eyeing free-agent QB Marcus Mariota, who worked with Falcons head coach Arthur Smith in Tennessee.

Whether or not the team adds Mariota, drafting a quarterback next month becomes a real possibility. Some of the possible options include Malik Jackson, Kenny Pickett and Desmond Ridder.

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Falcons free agency tracker: Koo returns, Gage departs

Stay up to date with the latest Atlanta Falcons news, rumors and fan reactions using our free agency tracker.

The NFL’s new league year begins at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, but several free agents, including Foye Oluokun and Russell Gage, have already found new homes.

Stay up to date with the latest Atlanta Falcons news, rumors and fan reactions using our free agency tracker below.