The Atlanta Falcons have been one of the more aggressive teams in the NFL throughout the free agency period. Throughout that time, they’ve handed out over $100 million in guaranteed money to eight players. The only one of eight that was a Falcon last season was right tackle Kaleb McGary. Five of the eight come on the defensive side of the ball, where defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen takes over.
Dean Pees’ defense ranked 29th in EPA and 30th in weighted DVOA a season ago. The roster lacked a talented pass rusher outside of franchise stalwart Grady Jarrett. Safety had been a sore spot for Atlanta, as had the third CB spot. And while Terry Fontenot hasn’t completely rebuilt the roster, the Falcons are far closer to competitiveness than they were a season ago, at least on the defensive side.
On the surface, signing Bud Dupree doesn’t move the needle, but it shows effort. The organization is throwing darts, and more importantly, they have a few decent draft darts to throw as well, including the eighth overall pick, that could potentially be an elite edge defender someday.
Atlanta Falcons New-Look Defense Could Make Waves
The New Orleans Saints defense has been my favorite to watch over the past half-decade. Overall, the scheme was none too complex. Dennis Allen was, first and foremost, a strong play-caller, and he held the patent on big, physical edge rushers with good interior pass rushers like David Onyemata. It was the embodiment of play simple, play fast.
Nielsen won’t make wholesale changes because he doesn’t have to, as he said himself during his introductory press conference.
“We don’t just want to blow everything up and start over again,” Nielsen said. “We’re gonna take what we’ve done well here the last couple of years, we’re gonna implement some new things, put in some new ideas and just kind of marry it.”
The new-look Cover 3 was somewhat of a staple and came with cornerbacks who understood their assignments to a tee and could think on their feet while making plays. It’s clear that Nielsen and Fontenot are attempting to bring those pillars from New Orleans to Atlanta, and aside from the Cam Jordan-level pass rusher, they have the pieces necessary to succeed.
Atlanta Improves Secondary With Jeff Okudah Trade
We already saw improvements a season ago from the former No. 3 selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jeff Okudah. The former Buckeyes standout wasn’t healthy in Aaron Glenn’s first season as Lions’ defensive coordinator but played much better as a healthy starter in 2022.
That’s important to note because Glenn also hails from New Orleans, where he spent time as the Saints’ DBs coach from 2016-2020. That style of coverage tendency is akin to Okudah’s time at Ohio State, not unlike what he’ll be asked to do in Atlanta.
But what else made the Saints’ defense so successful in recent years? An elite free safety.
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Marcus Williams was a great fit for that defense, and Jessie Bates is the perfect fit for it. There were times when Williams would be at such a ridiculous depth that it’d make Gregg Williams blush. Bates will be able to play close to 20 yards off the ball at times and be able to use his eyes to read/react and make plays from depth.
And it never hurt the Saints to have a healthy Marshon Lattimore on the field. We’ve already seen what A.J. Terrell is capable of, and Nielsen’s defense should highlight his strengths.
Front Line Made up of Veterans
The second level is a bit of a question mark. Troy Andersen is the most athletic linebacker ever, according to his 10.00 Relative Athletic Score. He has an unmatched blend of size and athleticism but was very raw coming out of Montana State. But the hope has to be that Andersen and Mykal Walker can play more unimpeded with the additions made to the defensive line.
Fontenot must have a thing for veteran defensive linemen because his defensive front is practically made up of them entirely. Calais Campbell (36), David Onyemata (30), and Jarrett (turns 30 during the draft, happy birthday). But adding veteran leadership is something that the general manager takes seriously.
“It’s very important to know who you’re signing, who you bring in the building,” Fontenot said during Shrine Bowl week. “We’re always going to focus on makeup and focus on culture.”
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However, there are a few pieces on the defensive line to be excited about. Kaden Elliss didn’t play much until his third NFL season as a seventh-round pick, but he played a mixture of off-ball linebacker and edge for New Orleans and found some pass-rush success midway through the Saints’ season. Arnold Ebiketie struggled as a rookie on the edge, but the 24-year-old has a ton of potential. Additionally, Lorenzo Carter is a solid player.
It’s not a complete defense, but it’s much improved from a season ago, and their production in 2023 should prove as much. And Dupree is simply another name to throw into the ring to drive competitiveness within the roster.