FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The late-year turnaround for Atlanta's pass rush was something nobody saw coming when the Falcons entered their bye in Week 12. Atlanta ranked last in the league with 10 sacks in its first 11 games. It ranked second in the league, however, with 21 sacks during weeks 13-18.

That furious rally to finish the year provided a couple of revelations, but it wasn't enough to change the public opinion of Atlanta's group of edge rushers.

Of the Falcons' 31 sacks in 2024 — the second-lowest total in the NFL — 15.5 came from the edge rushers. Arnold Ebiketie led all defenders with six sacks, five of which came after the bye week. The late-year surge was a promising sign for the former second-round pick, and Ebiketie said on multiple occasions that he believed he "left some on the table." He'll enter a pivotal fourth season with the Falcons looking to pick up where he left off.

2024 POSITION REVIEWS:

• Quarterback: Michael Penix Jr. takes over
• Running back: Bijan Robinson headlines a productive season
• Wide receiver: Drake London, Darnell Mooney emerge as top duo
• Tight end: Evaluating Kyle Pitts, TE group's 2024 season
• Offensive line: Consistency lasted in 2024 but isn't guaranteed in 2025
• Defensive tackles: Veterans lead group once again

If Ebiketie's performance was a bright spot at the end of the year, Matthew Judon's was a disappointment. He also finished the year with a mini flurry, picking up three of his 5.5 sacks from weeks 14-17, but Judon was brought here because of his long track record of pass-rush production and his sack total in 2024 didn't match that past performance. Judon enters the 2025 offseason as a free agent, so it remains to be seen if he will be back in the fold next year.

There were a few other notable performances among Atlanta's edge rushers. James-Smith Williams was establishing himself as a run defender in the team's defensive rotation prior to a season-ending injury against New Orleans in Week 10. He had 11 defensive stops and just one missed tackle before his year came to an early end. Zach Harrison is another player whose growth was apparent as the season went along. He entered his second season in a tricky spot, having to gain weight for a different role in Atlanta's new defensive scheme. Once he found his stride, Harrison's impact was felt for the defensive line.

Similarly, Demone Harris and DeAngelo Malone were two players not on the radar as pass rushers when training camp concluded who became contributors as the season continued. Malone's penalty against Washington was a sour note to end on, but he did have a two-sack performance against the Raiders.

The final player to mention here is Lorenzo Carter. Despite playing the third-most snaps of any Falcons edge defender, Carter's impact was not regularly felt. After totaling seven in his first two years with the Falcons, the former third-rounder did not record a sack in 2024 — the first time in his career he's failed to have one in a season. He's another unrestricted free agent for Atlanta this offseason.

Bralen Trice's season-ending injury in the preseason is one of the biggest what ifs for the entire Falcons team. The third-round pick was a standout early in training camp and looked poised for a promising rookie season. If he's able to capitalize on that promise, it could provide a big boost that the Falcons' pass rush didn't have last season.

Notable returners: Arnold Ebiketie, Bralen Trice, Zach Harrison, DeAngelo Malone

2025 free agents: Matthew Judon, Lorenzo Carter, James Smith-Williams, Demone Harris

Key 2024 stats:

• Arnold Ebiketie: 2 starts, 17 games played | 38 tackles, 6 tackles for loss | 24 pressures, 6 sacks | 2 pass defenses, 1 fumble recovery

• Matthew Judon: 15 starts, 17 games played | 41 tackles, 7 tackles for loss | 12 pressures, 5.5 sacks | 5 pass defenses, 1 interception, 1 touchdown

• Lorenzo Carter: 11 starts, 15 games played | 32 tackles, 2 tackles for loss | 3 pressures, 0 sacks | 1 forced fumble

• Zach Harrison: 1 start, 17 games played | 26 tackles, 3 tackles for loss | 6 pressures, 1 sack | 2 pass defenses, 1 safety

• James Smith-Williams: 5 starts, 10 games played | 24 tackles, 7 tackles for loss | 2 pressures, 1 sack

• DeAngelo Malone: 0 starts, 17 games played | 16 tackles, 3 tackles for loss | 5 pressures, 2 sacks

• Demone Harris: 0 starts, 9 games played | 11 tackles, 1 tackle for loss | 2 pressures, 0 sacks | 1 pass defense

• Khalid Kareem: 0 starts, 2 games played | 4 tackles, 0 tackles for loss | 1 pressure, 0 sacks

Biggest question facing position group in 2025: Who will they add to the mix?

Even if the Falcons weren't set to potentially lose players like Judon and Carter, they'd still need to make some additions to this unit. The 21-sack outpouring was nice, but Atlanta still had the second-fewest sacks in the NFL in 2024. The pass rush continues to be the clearest area in need of an upgrade, and it's impossible not to wonder if better play off the edge would have made a difference in the many close games Atlanta played this year.

If Ebiketie can take another step forward, that will help. If Bralen Trice becomes the player the team hopes he can be, that will help. Zach Harrison is a wild card in all of this, but he's got some very enticing qualities. Nevertheless, those three aren't enough to make the Falcons a great pass rush group.

Fortunately, the early scouting for this year's NFL Draft seems very promising on the defensive side. There are a number of intriguing edge prospects who could still be on the board when the Falcons pick at No. 15 or if they decide to trade back to acquire more capital. Free agency is another path to pursue a proven option, but quality edge rushers are among the most expensive free agents out there, and the Falcons probably won't have enough cap space to win any major bidding wars.

So, the path forward for this unit likely comes down to two things: Continued growth and improvement from the young players already inside of the building, and nailing the draft picks on the defensive side of the ball.