Tag: Richie Grant

Surprise defender is Falcons’ highest-graded player in 2024 NFL season

The Falcons’ highest-graded player entering Week 3 is a safety, but not Jessie Bates or Justin Simmons…

The Atlanta Falcons have two Pro Bowl safeties in their defensive backfield but neither Jessie Bates III nor Justin Simmons hold the team’s highest Pro Football Focus grade entering Week 3. That honor belongs to Falcons safety Richie Grant, who leads the team with a PFF grade of 84.8 through the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL season.

While Grant’s role has drastically decreased, he has played well in limited snaps this year. In Week 2, Grant broke up a pass from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the red zone. The fourth-year safety appears to be making the most of his limited chances while contributing on special teams.

Grant has started 32 games over the last two seasons but lost his job when the team signed Simmons in free agency. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said he intends to find ways to get Bates, Simmons and Grant on the field, per team reporter Terrin Waack.

“Those are great problems to have as a coach,” Morris said of having three capable safeties on the roster. Grant’s coverage ability isn’t on the level of Simmons or Bates, but perhaps stepping back will benefit the former second-round pick.

Running back Bijan Robinson is the team’s top-rated offensive player. Check out Pro Football Focus’ 10 highest-graded Falcons players entering Week 3 (NOTE: Nate Landman is not included due to being on IR).

  1. S Richie Grant: 84.8
  2. RB Bijan Robinson: 83.5
  3. C Drew Dalman: 78.6
  4. CB Mike Hughes: 74.1
  5. RT Kaleb McGary: 69.6
  6. WR Ray-Ray McCloud: 67.6
  7. WR Drake London: 67.4
  8. S Jessie Bates: 66.8
  9. OLB Arnold Ebiketie: 65.7
  10. RB Tyler Allgeier: 65.2

The Falcons will need all three of their safeties to play well if they’re going to find a way to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3. The Chiefs are three-point favorites, but Atlanta is coming off its most exciting victory in years.

Sunday night’s game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET inside a roofless Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Check out the Falcons’ updated 53-man roster, depth chart and injury report entering Week 3.

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NFL fines Falcons safety Richie Grant for unnecessary roughness

Falcons safety Richie Grant has been fined by the NFL for unnecessary roughness against the Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant is the latest member of the team to receive a fine from the NFL for unnecessary roughness.

Grant has been fined $12,528 for his hit on Cardinals tight end Trey McBride in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss in Arizona, ESPN’s Michael Rothstein reported on Saturday afternoon.

The secondary has received a handful of fines already this season. Last week, cornerback Dee Alford was fined $4,853 for an unnecessary roughness violation against the Vikings.

In Week 9, cornerback Jeff Okudah and safety Jessie Bates received fines of $16,391 and $21,855, respectively. The Falcons are off this weekend before returning in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints at home.

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Falcons S Richie Grant forces fumble vs. Buccaneers

Falcons Highlights: Safety Richie Grant forces fumble on Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin

 

The Atlanta Falcons got off to a slow start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18, but they appear to be finding their groove as the game goes on. Following Desmond Ridder’s first career touchdown pass, Falcons safety Richie Grant forced a fumble on Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin.

Atlanta recovered the fumble but settled for field goal to give the team a 10-7 lead over Tampa Bay in the second quarter.

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Falcons’ Richie Grant blocks punt, Patterson punches it in for TD

WATCH: #Falcons S Richie Grant blocks punt, Cordarrelle Patterson punches it in for TD vs. Cardinals

Special teams play is arguably the most overlooked aspect of football, but it frequently determines the outcomes of games.

In the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, Falcons safety Richie Grant blocked a punt that led to a Cordarrelle Patterson touchdown run on the following play.

Watch both highlights below, as shared by the team’s Twitter account.

Atlanta currently has a 14-13 lead over Arizona at halftime.

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5 Falcons players to watch vs. the Bears

Here are the Falcons players we’ll be watching for when they face the Bears this weekend.

The Chicago Bears travel south to take on the Atlanta Falcons for their Week 11 matchup. The Bears (3-7) are looking to snap a three-game losing streak despite scoring more than 29 points in each of their losses. The Falcons (4-6) are also riding a losing streak, but are still within striking distance of the division lead and look to get back on track.

It will be a reunion of sorts for these two teams. Many former Bears players, coaches, and even front office members are now with the Falcons, including a couple starters. See which former Bears are worth keeping an eye on this weekend as we pick out five Falcons players to watch when these teams meet up.

Falcons S Richie Grant earns elite PFF grade in Week 10

#Falcons S Richie Grant earned an ELITE Pro Football Focus grade of 91.7 in Week 10

The Atlanta Falcons dropped to 4-6 after suffering back-to-back losses in Weeks 9 and 10. While they are still very much alive in a subpar NFC South division, Thursday night’s double-digit loss to the Panthers was a reminder of just how far the Falcons have to go before they can be considered a legitimate contender.

There are still seven games remaining, though, and not everyone played poorly in Week 10. Safety Richie Grant was a major bright spot as the Falcons undermanned secondary held the Panthers passing offense to 101 yards.

Grant nearly had a late interception and finished the game with eight tackles and two passes defended. Pro Football Focus gave Grant an elite rating of 91.7 for his Week 10 performance.

Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge led the offense with a 93.1 overall grade. Hodge finished with two catches for 37 receiving yards, including a 25-yard touchdown. Here are PFF‘s 15 highest-graded Falcons in Week 10.

Richie Grant wants to give Atlanta something to look forward to

Second-year Falcons safety Richie Grant wants to give the city something to look forward to in 2022.

For those outside the Falcons organization, there’s very little optimism regarding the team’s outlook for 2022. After finishing with a losing record for four straight seasons, it’s hard to see that changing anytime soon with so many key losses on offense and defense.

The only way for Atlanta to turn things around this year is for the team’s young players to step up. Richie Grant, who didn’t get as much playing time as many anticipated during his rookie season, is looking to turn things around.

The second-year safety wants to give the city something to look forward to in 2022.

“Oh I told [Arthur Smith] earlier, this is the best idea [open practice at Mercedes-Benz] we ever had, man. Come out here and practice with the fans? It’s beautiful,” stated an energetic Grant after Friday’s open practice at the Falcons’ home stadium. “It gives you a little extra juice, you know what I’m saying? And then you give the city something to look forward to.”

Atlanta has some talented young pieces that should be around for a long time. Grant, who was selected in the second round in 2021, hopes to be a part of that group. Asked what has changed for him entering year two, the former UCF standout said he’s feeling more calm.

“I’d say just a little more calm. I was always ready to play, just a little more calm. Just taking it slow. Each play, letting it come to me. I’m just making sure I get my communication out. We all communicate on defense, but it’s just way more calm this year.”

Being more calm is a welcoming sign because you can run yourself out of a play by being too quick and not allowing the play to come to you. On occasions last season, Grant took himself out of plays by doing just that. So, it’s possible that a calmer approach could help him develop into the player Atlanta envisioned him to be.

As second-year tight end Kyle Pitts spoke on as well, Grant said the players are learning to lean on each other. In the past, there have been key veterans to take charge, but that torch has been passed down to younger guys like A.J. Terrell and Pitts.

“I say we all lean on each other,” said Grant. “It’s a bunch of new guys, it’s a different group. It’s pretty much about building chemistry right now, and trying to play as fast as we can.”

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Falcons place two rookies on reserve/COVID-19 list

For the second day in a row, the Atlanta Falcons placed multiple players on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

For the second day in a row, the Atlanta Falcons placed multiple players on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Safety Richie Grant and quarterback Feleipe Franks were the latest members of the team to land on the NFL’s virus designation, bringing Atlanta’s total to eight players.

Grant, a second-round pick out of UCF, has played mostly at nickel corner this season despite being drafted as a safety. Franks was signed as an undrafted free agent and has played both as a backup quarterback and at tight end.

This recent COVID surge isn’t unique to the Falcons, though, the NFL’s been having widespread outbreaks over the past week alone.

Atlanta heads to Buffalo in Week 17 for a matchup against the AFC East-leading Bills.

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Falcons 2021 draft class: Looking at all nine rookie contracts

Now that tight end Kyle Pitts has signed, all nine Falcons picks are under contract. Let’s take a look at the numbers for each rookie.

After years of poor salary cap management, the Atlanta Falcons were forced to trade away wide receiver Julio Jones just to clear enough space for their 2021 draft class. Now that tight end Kyle Pitts has signed, all nine Falcons picks are under contract.

Here’s a breakdown of the contract details for each rookie.