Prior to this month's draft, 1SBD's Mark Hogan takes an in-depth look into each team's current projected starters and identifies strengths and lingering team needs after the first waves of free agency.
Player stats collected from Pro Football Reference. Base salary information per Over The Cap.
TAKEAWAYS
PROS
- There's no telling how explosive the Falcons offense could be under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. The Buccaneers lead the NFL in yards through the air last season under Koetter, who will get to work with an all-round better cast in 2019. Atlanta is in an enviable position with it's skill players on offense.
- Head coach Dan Quinn said an overhaul of Atlanta's offensive line needed to take place this off-season and the team's front office made it happen. Pro Bowler Jake Matthews and All-Pro Alex Mack will return but a host of free agents - including James Carpenter and Jamon Brown - will compete for positions. The Falcons could still draft a lineman early but at least they have depth so aren't relying on a high-impact pick.
CONS
- The team may look to add pass rush depth. Reports already suggest the team is willing to move on from Vic Beasley next year if the defensive end doesn't have an impressive 2019. Takk McKinley is touted as being better suited on the inside of the defensive line so the team could do worse than replacing him on the edge.
- Cornerbacks Robert Alford and Brian Poole departed Atlanta this off-season making depth behind Desmond Trufant an important priority. Last year's second round pick Isaiah Oliver will step in to start, but who lines up behind him needs to be addressed.
Projected Starters
NOTE:
NAME, Draft Round.Overall Pick (TEAM, year). Starts/Games Played. Age. Cap Hit 2019
QB has an additional 'total yards, number of attempts (yards per attempt)' figure.
RB, WR and TE have an additional ‘total yards / number of touches (yards per touch)’ statistic
Age as of Sunday September 8, 2019 (Week 1)
QUARTERBACK
MATT RYAN, 1.03 (ATL, 2008). 174/174. 46,720 yards/ 6,201 attempts. (7.5 y/a). 34-years-old. $15,800,000
RUNNING BACK
DEVONTA FREEMAN, 4.103 (ATL, 2014). 45/63. 4,921 yards/ 965 touches (5.1). 27-years-old. $6,750,000
WIDE RECEIVER
JULIO JONES, 1.06 (ATL, 2011). 110/111. 10,852 yards/ 715 touches (15.2). 30-years-old. $13,466,666
MOHAMED SANU, 3.83 (CIN, 2012). 80/103. 4,199 yards/ 382 touches (11.0). 30-years-old. $7,650,000
CALVIN RIDLEY, 1.26 (ATL, 2018). 5/16. 848 yards/ 70 touches (12.1). 24-years-old. $2,477,439
Average: 38th overall pick. 195 starts/ 230 games played (84.8%). 15,899 yards/ 1,167 touches (13.6). 28-years-old. Total cap hit: $23.6M
TIGHT END
AUSTIN HOOPER, 3.81 (ATL, 2016). 18/46. 1,457 yards/ 139 touches (10.5). 24-years-old. $2,211,881
OFFENSIVE LINE
JAKE MATTHEWS, 1.06 (ATL, 2014). 79/79. 27-years-old. $11,089,200
JAMES CARPENTER, 1.25 (SEA, 2011). 97/103. 30-years-old. $2,875,000
ALEX MACK, 1.21 (CLE, 2009). 149/149. 33-years-old. $11,050,000
BRANDON FUSCO, 6.172 (MIN, 2011). 87/90. 31-years-old. $4,793,750
TY SAMBRAILO, 2.59 (DEN, 2015). 13/44. 27-years-old. $3,250,000
Average: 57th overall pick. 425 starts/ 465 games played (91.4%). 29.6-years-old. Total cap hit: $33.1M
DEFENSIVE LINE
VIC BEASLEY, 1.08 (ATL, 2015). 45/62. 27-years-old. $12,810,000
TYELER DAVISON, 5.154 (NO, 2015). 48/61. 26-years-old. UNKNOWN
GRADY JARRETT, 5.137 (ATL, 2015). 46/61. 26-years-old. $15,209,000
TAKKARIST MCKINLEY, 1.26 (ATL, 2017). 8/31. 23-years-old. $2,786,398
Average: 81st overall pick. 147 starts/ 215 games played (68.4%). 25.5-years-old. Total cap hit: $30.8M* *Davison figure not yet known
LINEBACKERS
DE'VONDRE CAMPBELL, 4.115 (ATL, 2016). 39/43. 26-years-old. $2,166,382
DEION JONES, 2.52 (ATL, 2016). 35/37. 24-years-old. $1,446,340
FOYESADE OLUOKUN, 6.200 (ATL, 2018). 7/16. 24-years-old. $606,657
Average: 122nd overall pick. 81 starts/ 96 games played (84.4%). 24.6-years-old. Total cap hit: $4.2M
CORNERBACK
DESMOND TRUFANT, 1.22 (ATL, 2013). 88/88. 29-years-old. $13,900,000
ISAIAH OLIVER, 2.58 (ATL, 2018). 2/14. 22-years-old. $1,053,784
Average: 40th overall pick. 90 starts/ 102 games played (88.2%). 25.5-years-old. Total cap hit: $15.0M
SAFETY
KEANU NEAL, 1.17 (ATL, 2016). 31/31. 24-years-old. $3,416,524
RICARDO ALLEN, 5.147 (ATL, 2014). 48/49. 27-years-old. $4,875,000
Average: 82nd overall pick. 79 starts/ 80 games played (98.8%). 25.5-years-old. Total cap hit: $8.3M
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