Atlanta Falcons Offseason Grade
Can a loaded defense carry Michael Penix Jr. across the finish line?
The Atlanta Falcons made one thing clear this offseason: they’re all-in on building around Michael Penix Jr. by building up everything around him.
Rather than surround their young quarterback with high-priced weapons, the Falcons followed the blueprint that carried the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl; investing heavily in a ferocious, young, and versatile defense designed to carry the load as Penix develops.
What I liked about what the Falcons have done
The Falcons didn’t just hand Raheem Morris the keys — they parked a Ferrari in the defensive mastermind’s driveway and told him to floor it.
Already one of the more underrated and talented defenses in the league, with a mixture of homegrown talent and premium free agents signed in recent years, the Falcons spent much of this offseason taking care of their own; re-signing the likes of Mike Hughes and Dee Alford, while signing cornerback Mike Ford and Jordan Fuller, two of the premier defensive backs available in free agency as well as veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd, who has posted 19 sacks, combined, the past two seasons.
All of those moves were made before tossing every last poker chip into the middle of the table to upgrade their biggest weakness during the NFL Draft.
The Falcons didn’t just emerge with potential Defensive Rookie of the Year, edge rusher Jalon Walker, before giving up a second-round pick in 2025 and a first-round pick in 2026 to snag dynamic former Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce. There’s Atlanta’s pass rush duo for the next half-decade, a full reset.
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What Worries Me About the Falcons’ Offseason and 2025 Outlook
Atlanta really, really, really should have tried harder to trade Kirk Cousins ahead of the NFL Draft.
The $37.5 million in dead-money would have been a sunk cost while the $2.5 million in cap space could have been stashed away for a rainy day this spring and summer, and any meager assets acquired from a quarterback-desperate team such as the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Cleveland Browns, or even the New York Giants would have made the Falcons’ draft night blockbuster trade just a tiny bit more palatable.
Likewise, while the Falcons have clearly committed to building a swarming and stingy defense in Morris’ image, Atlanta largely made piecemeal and depth additions on offense. This could be a big bet that running back Bijan Robinson takes a major step this fall and that this is finally the season tight end Kyle Pitts breaks out, reaching his potential, but much of that optimism hinges on Michael Penix Jr. making a leap in his first full season as a starter.
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There were 257 players chosen over the weekend during the 2025 NFL Draft, but it was the one who free-fell to the fifth round that drove the conversation and hovered over Green Bay like dark snowclouds on a grey winter’s day.
Atlanta Falcons Offseason Grade: B
The Falcons’ offseason may be defined just as much by the moves they didn’t make as by the bold ones they did.
As long as Kirk Cousins and his albatross of a $40 million cap hit remain on the roster, he and it are a hinderance to building around Penix Jr. and this young core truly taking flight. The good news for the Falcons is that, should a quarterback get injured across the league during training camp this summer, trading Cousins post June 1 would create $27.5 million in cap space this season and $25 million in spending flexibility next season while triggering a $12.5 million dead-money charge.
For all of the strides that the Falcons have made in terms of adding real teeth to the pass rush through free agency and bold aggressive moves during the NFL Draft, Atlanta is still largely relying on the same underperforming offensive weapons while betting Drake London continues to improve as Penix Jr. develops and goes through the expected growing pains.
Cousins’ contract carries the specter of a dark cloud over the Falcons’ ability to build a contender, and they might need to wait at least one more season before going all in around their second-year quarterback. But, the clock is ticking on his rookie contract window.
The Falcons made the kind of moves that could push the franchise a step closer to the postseason, but so much of Atlanta’s fortunes in 2025 hinge on Penix and the offense being able to do enough to make those additions matter.
Which move should have the Falcons the most optimistic, and what should keep head coach Raheem Morris up at night? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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