South Atlanta News

The Atlanta Falcons are grappling with ongoing challenges in their pass rush, a recurring issue that has drawn attention throughout the season. Initially ranking low in sacks and pressures, the team's performance improved significantly in the latter half of the year. Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot addressed these inconsistencies during a recent postseason press conference.

"We have pressure players, we have to add to that," Fontenot stated. "We showed ability, we showed improvement in that area, but that definitely needs to be an area that we continue to improve."

Atlanta recorded only 15 sacks in the first 11 weeks but managed to tie for second place with 21 sacks in the final six games after their bye week. Key contributors included outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie and inside linebacker Kaden Elliss. Ebiketie led with six sacks, five of which came post-bye week, while Elliss had four out of his total five sacks during the same period.

Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris highlighted Elliss as crucial for future defensive strategies. The team plans to enhance its roster through drafts and free agency.

With the No. 15 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Fontenot indicated a possibility of trading down for additional draft capital. The Falcons hold several other picks across different rounds. Last year's draft saw them select edge rusher Bralen Trice and defensive linemen Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus; however, injuries limited their contributions.

As defense becomes a focal point for this year's draft prospects, more than half of the top 20 picks are projected to be defensive players according to early mock drafts.

Free agency remains another avenue for strengthening their pass rush. After losing Trice to injury last preseason, the Falcons acquired Matthew Judon from New England Patriots, who concluded his season with 5.5 sacks—below his career average.

Decisions loom over seven unrestricted free agents among defensive linemen and outside linebackers including Judon, Lorenzo Carter, and James Smith-Williams—all pivotal on-field presences last season.

The Falcons face potential cap space constraints with approximately $4 million available according to OverTheCap as they consider options like Khalil Mack or Josh Sweat among others on the open market.

Fontenot emphasized long-term objectives: "There's a lot of vision of this team (in) what we want it to be," he said. "There are positives in a number of areas but ultimately we haven't won enough—and that's what we have to do."