FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The safety position for the Atlanta Falcons looked different in 2024 than it did in 2023, but one thing remained the same: Jessie Bates III is an outstanding football player.
The Falcons team captain made timely plays and was a consistent standout for the defense. In just two seasons, Bates has firmly established himself as a leader in the locker room and a fan favorite. His versatility, reliability and understanding of the game are crucial factors in allowing Atlanta to be multiple in its defensive looks.
Bates was the only player in the NFL to record four forced fumbles and four interceptions last season. His 11 takeaways the last two seasons ranks fourth in the league, and he has the most forced fumbles during that same span with seven. With Bates firmly established in Atlanta's secondary, the attention will naturally shift to the second safety spot.
OFFENSIVE POSITION REVIEWS:
DEFENSIVE POSITION REVIEWS
Justin Simmons joined the Falcons in August to a lot of fanfare. The Pro Bowler and four-time second-team All-Pro had a reputation for being one of the best coverage safeties in the league and figured to give Atlanta one of the best safety duos in the league. Simmons was by no means bad in his first season, but he didn't entirely live up to his own lofty standards.
Simmons started all 16 games he played in 2024, registering seven pass defenses and two interceptions. He is set to hit free agency this offseason, so it remains to be seen whether he will be back in a Falcons uniform. However, if he does not return, the Falcons do have another player they could conceivably turn to.
DeMarcco Hellams' second season ended before it truly began. He injured his ankle during the team's first preseason game and never made his way back to the field. A seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Hellams earned his way onto the field as a rookie and started four games for the Falcons down the stretch. He figures to be in the safety mix next season.
Notable returners: Jessie Bates III, DeMarcco Hellams
Set to hit free agency: Justin Simmons, Richie Grant, Micah Abernathy
Key 2024 stats:
- Jessie Bates: 17 starts, 17 appearances | 102 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss | 10 pass defenses, 4 interceptions | 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery | 1 sack
- Justin Simmons: 16 starts, 16 appearances | 62 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss | 7 pass defenses, 2 interceptions
- Richie Grant: 1 start, 17 appearances | 14 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss | 2 pass defenses
- Micah Abernathy: 0 starts, 6 appearances | 3 tackles
Biggest question facing position group in 2025: Is Hellams the answer at the second safety spot?
The Falcons don't have an abundance of resources entering the offseason. They are relatively limited at this point from a cap standpoint, even if they do make moves to clear up space, and they hold five draft picks. With a few positions set to address, does the coaching staff feel comfortable enough with Hellams to move safety down the list of priorities, at least in terms of adding a starter?
That could be a dicey proposition. For as well as Hellams played in spurts during his rookie season, that is a small sample size. He started all 13 games for Alabama in 2022 — his final season with the Crimson Tide — and led the team with 108 tackles, so there is a history of production at a high level, despite the seventh-round label. His skills translate to more of a box safety role, which could work because Bates is so versatile and could play more free safety.
Still, it would have been much more preferable to have seen Hellams on the field at all during the 2024 season to get a clearer idea for what he can do in this defense. The Falcons will know better than anyone how Hellams fits their vision and all that he brings to the table, but they'll need to be sure about that evaluation. Otherwise, getting a starter opposite Bates could be a higher priority this offseason.
