Falcons 2022 positional outlook: Upgrade or downgrade?

Matt Urben
·2 min read

It’s may be true that the NFL news cycle never stops, but it definitely slows down at times throughout the offseason. June tends to be one of the slower months as the high from the draft wears off and other sports come into focus.

Falcons fans are just happy to have some clarity in terms of what this year’s roster will look like. Aside from the obvious change at quarterback, the team added two new starting receivers, reinforced the running back and linebacker positions, and signed a Pro Bowl cornerback.

We’ve gone through each position group on the roster to determine if the Falcons have upgraded or downgraded from last year.

Quarterback

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Key additions:

  • Marcus Mariota

  • Desmond Ridder

Key losses:

  • Matt Ryan

Verdict: Downgrade

Running Back

(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Key additions:

  • Damien Williams

  • Tyler Allgeier

  • Jeremy McNichols

Key losses:

  • Mike Davis

Verdict: Upgrade

Wide Receiver

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Key additions:

  • Drake London

  • Bryan Edwards

  • Damiere Byrd

  • Auden Tate

Key losses:

  • Russell Gage

  • Calvin Ridley (1-year suspension)

Verdict: Upgrade

Tight End

George Walker IV-USA TODAY Sports

Key additions:

  • Anthony Firkser

  • John FitzPatrick

Key losses:

  • Hayden Hurst

  • Lee Smith

Verdict: Downgrade

Offensive Line

Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Key additions:

  • Germain Ifedi

  • Elijah Wilkinson

  • Justin Shaffer

Key losses:

  • Matt Gono

Verdict: Upgrade

Defensive Line

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Key additions:

  • Vincent Taylor

Key losses:

  • Tyeler Davison

  • Jonathan Bullard

  • John Cominsky

Verdict: Downgrade

Outside Linebacker

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Key additions:

  • Lorenzo Carter

  • Arnold Ebiketie

  • DeAngelo Malone

Key losses:

  • Dante Fowler Jr.

  • Steven Means

Verdict: Upgrade

Inside Linebacker

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Key additions:

  • Rashaan Evans

  • Troy Andersen

  • Nick Kwiatkoski

Key losses:

  • Foye Oluokun

Verdict: Downgrade

Cornerback

(AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Key additions:

  • Casey Hayward

  • Teez Tabor

  • Mike Ford

Key losses:

  • Fabian Moreau

  • Kendall Sheffield

Verdict: Upgrade

Safety

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Key additions:

  • Dean Marlowe

Key losses:

  • Duron Harmon

Verdict: Too close to call

Punter

William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

Key additions:

  • Seth Vernon

Key losses:

  • Thomas Morstead

Verdict: Downgrade

Long Snapper

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Key additions:

  • Beau Brinkley

Key losses:

  • Josh Harris

Verdict: Downgrade

Positional Recap

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Key additions:

  • CB Casey Hayward

  • WR Drake London

  • WR Bryan Edwards

  • TE Anthony Firkser

  • OLB Arnold Ebiketie

  • OLB Lorenzo Carter

  • OLB DeAngelo Malone

  • ILB Rashaan Evans

  • ILB Troy Andersen

  • DL Vincent Taylor

  • S Dean Marlowe

  • RB Tyler Allgeier

Key losses:

  • QB Matt Ryan

  • ILB Foye Oluokun

  • WR Russell Gage

  • OLB Dante Fowler Jr.

  • TE Hayden Hurst

  • OLB Steven Means

  • DL John Cominsky

  • DL Tyeler Davison

  • OL Matt Gono

  • CB Kendall Sheffield

  • S Duron Harmon

  • P Thomas Morstead

  • LS Josh Harris

Falcons Fan Vote: Final Verdict

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