FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Falcons had tons of salary-cap space heading into free agency. They spent it well, fortifying positions of need and filling roles across the depth chart.
Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith remade the defensive line around Grady Jarrett. They kept a stellar offensive front together. They brought in a dynamic tight end in trade. They added two cornerbacks and an elite safety, plus a heat-seeking linebacker and plenty of depth in reserve.
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- Official free agency signings: S Jessie Bates III, DL David Onyemata, LB Kaden Elliss, QB Taylor Heinicke, CB Mike Hughes, LB Tae Davis, WR Mack Hollins; DL Joe Gaziano, WR Scotty Miller, DL Calais Campbell, OL Josh Miles, OLB Bud Dupree, CB Jeff Okudah, OL Ethan Greenidge
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- Question of the Week: Who will Falcons take at No. 8?
All that accomplished one important feat in relation to the NFL Draft. The Falcons don't have pressing needs. Go ahead and form a way-too-early depth chart. Try to find a position where they absolutely can't survive without a first-round talent. I'll wait. For crickets to break the silence.
Does that mean the Falcons are a complete team undoubtedly ready to compete for a title, division or otherwise? It does not.
It does free the Falcons up, however, to choose the talent they truly want with the No. 8 overall pick or wherever they select in the first round.
"We feel good," Smith said. "We don't feel desperate going into this and we can make some great picks to allow us to take the subjective best player available, so to speak, and allow us to move around."
That's a good place to be heading into the draft. It frees Fontenot and Smith up to take the talent they want. They aren't bound by anything. They can let the evaluations speak for themselves without concern that a pick made with the big picture in mind will severely hinder the 2023 product.
Take an edge rusher early? No sweat. A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes and Jeff Okudah can man the cornerback spots, with experience depth behind them. Choose to focus on the secondary at 8? That's cool. Calais Campbell, Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata and Bud Dupree form a formidable front, with Arnold Ebiketie and Ta'Quon Graham ready to rotate in.
Even the receivers, which could use some reinforcements, can work with Drake London, Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller, especially with Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson able to play there regardless of how their position formally reads.
There are ways to help Atlanta's short-term goals, the first of which is to end a five-year playoff drought. The fact that isn't the main focus heading into this draft is a good thing for the franchise. Even better is that Smith is out front leading such a charge.
"It's easy for me or someone in the front office to say that we need to think long-term, we've got to think big picture and it's probably harder for coaches," Fontenot said. "You'd think it's strategic for them to be stuck in the moment, but I'll say this about Arthur. He does. He's still able to think long-term and think big picture. Even if this can help us long-term, this is what's best for us. So, he thinks that way and that makes it easy."
While the Falcons are well covered for the immediate future, they'll have some holes down the line. Campbell, Hollins, Dupree, Miller and Okudah are all here on one-year deals. You need longer-term answers there, on rookie deals if you can get them.
That's why the Falcons have options at No. 8, not beholden to taking the best [insert your position here] available when they draft. They could go cornerback or edge rusher at No. 8. They couldn't be blamed for looking hard at an offensive lineman.
That's also why they can go for a dynamic playmaker like Bijan Robinson in the first round. Or, if he's still around, a trade up for Alabama runner Jahmyr Gibbs shouldn't be out of the question. Nothing should at this point.
The road to long-term franchise health and a period of sustained success requires three things: 1. A quality quarterback. 2. Laser-guided free-agency additions. And, 3. Stacking draft classes.
The Falcons have done a good job of that last thing. They have gleaned production and depth from the 2021 and '22 classes. Doing so a few more times will provide the type of roster foundation required to weather injuries and inevitable departures. Add some star power to that and you've got a steady contender.
It also ramps up the level of competition, something Smith and Fontenot noted as a welcome development during Tuesday's pre-draft press conference. That may influence the volume of drafted players added. They might be fine with fewer, for example, allowing the decision makers to focus on more premium talents.
Fontenot said the Falcons won't "sit on our hands" if they feel they have to move around the draft board to get players they want.
"This is going to be a very competitive camp," Smith said. "I just look at it with where the numbers are and with credit to a lot of people, we've continued to add and build. I'm excited about that so that's part of the strategy too as you're moving around in the draft—how many picks do you want, future assets because we may have some guys on one-year deals, and this may be a hard 53 to make and that's a good problem to have. It's going to force us to make some really hard decisions at the end of camp. So, that's where you're really excited because you can see that's what's on deck for us."
Take a walk through Atlanta Falcons history with some of the top Falcons first round draft picks and their rookie seasons including legends like Steve Bartkowski, Michael Vick, Jake Matthews and more.
FILE - In this Dec. 14, 1965, file photo, All-America Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis, left, and Rankin Smith, owner of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League announce Nobis' signing of a contract with the team in Austin, Texas on Dec. 14, 1965. Nobis, the first player ever drafted by Atlanta in 1966 and a hard-hitting linebacker who went on to spent his entire 11-year career with the team, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, after an extended illness, the team announced. He was 74. (AP Photo/File)
University of California quarterback Steve Bartkowski gets set to try on a helmet of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL in Atlanta before flying to New York for the NFL's Pro Football Draft, Jan. 28, 1975. Bartkowski will be the first round pick of the Falcons, who got the No. 1 first round pick in a recent trade with the Baltimore Colts. The Falcons traded their no. 3 picking spot and offensive tackle George Kunz for Baltimore's spot so they could be assured of drafting Bartkowski. (AP Photo/Joe Holloway Jr.)
FILE - In this April 21, 2001, file photo, Michael Vick, right, of Virginia Tech, is presented with a jersey by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue after he was is chosen by the Atlanta Falcons as the No.1 pick at the NFL draft in New York. In the 13 years since his arrival as the fastest man on the field who also happened to have the best arm, Vick's impact has been felt in the way quarterbacks and offenses evolve in high school, college, and eventually, the pros. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick #7 during the game in Atlanta against the Dallas Cowboys on November 11, 2001.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick #7 during the preseason game in Kansas City agasint the Kansas City Chiefs on August 21, 2001.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick #7 during the preseason game in New York against the New York Jets on August 11, 2001. (Photo by Jimmy Cribb)
NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Matt Ryan shakes hands with National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodel after being selected third overall by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2008 NFL Draft on April 26, 2008 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Julio Jones poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Julio Jones poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs into the end zone as Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Ashton Youboty (31) is seen during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) heads for a touchdown on a pass reception as New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Martez Wilson (95) and another Saint defend during the first quarter of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones (11) runs after a catch for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter of Falcons' 31-23 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Jake Matthews answers questions during an NFL news conference at the team's headquarters Friday, May 9, 2014, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Matthews, an offensive lineman from Texas A&M, was the selected 6th overall in Thursday's NFL draft. (AP Photo/Jason Getz)
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Jake Matthews holds his jersey during an NFL news conference at the team's headquarters Friday, May 9, 2014, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Matthews, an offensive lineman from Texas A&M, was the selected 6th overall in Thursday's NFL draft. (AP Photo/Jason Getz)
Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews (70) works against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons' Jake Matthews (70) tries to block his cousin Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews (52) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, right, holds a team jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Atlanta Falcons selected Pitts with the 4th pick in the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts celebrates after being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2021 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 29, 2021 in Cleveland. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 celebrates after making a catch against the Detroit Lions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 runs down field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, December 5, 2021. (Photo by Kyle Hess/Atlanta Falcons)
Southern California wide receiver Drake London stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth pick of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Southern California wide receiver Drake London, left, and Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL, hold a team jersey after Drake London was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons with the 8th pick at the 2022 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 catches a pass during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, August 12, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 carries the ball during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, October 2, 2022. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
