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Pressure points: What is on the Falcons' 2025 offseason checklist?  

The 2024 season officially came to a close for the league Sunday night, turning the page to another year of questions needing answers for teams at large, including the Falcons. 

Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — With the Philadelphia Eagles taking over the top spot in the league Sunday night with a Super Bowl victory, the NFL at large can officially close the chapter that was the 2024 season. But with every good book, there's always a new chapter awaiting on the next page, and less than 48 hours after the season's final game, we're onto that next chapter.

Well, I guess technically Atlanta has been on the next chapter for a while now. But still. This time period between the Super Bowl's conclusion and the start of the NFL Combine at the end of the month is a fine time to level set the base needs of a franchise.

Three years ago, the offseason goal in Atlanta had to be facing the brunt weight of expensive and expiring contracts; taking dead money "on the chin" in order to be more prosperous towards the salary cap moving forward.

Two years ago, the goal was to build the roster out, signing important figures in free agency and drafting players who could play a role immediately. It was about using the newfound funds of the cap in a "disciplined" manner.

Last offseason, it was about making right a position that had been in turmoil since 2021. It was about shoring up the quarterback position, both in the short- and long-term. The theme of last year's offseason was that of "aggression." And for better or worse, the Falcons were that last offseason.

And what of this offseason? Well, that's still to be determined. However, considering the obvious needs of the team in 2025, a major theme of the offseason could be summed up in "pressure" — both being under it and needing to cause it.

So, with this theme (or goal) in mind, let's take a look at a few important items the Falcons need to check off between now and the start of training camp in late July.

checklist_offseason2025

Pressure on the front end

There's no way around this one: The Falcons have to take a long and hard look at their defensive production and consistency, or the lack of, in 2024 and how to rectify it in 2025. They've already started the process at the top, replacing Jimmy Lake with Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator. The next step is player evaluation — and soon, player acquisition. And everyone knows what the Falcons' No. 1 priority has to be this offseason in the bucket of latter: Atlanta has to bring in pressure players who wreak havoc immediately.

And whichever way you look at it, this (in my opinion) has to be done in both free agency and the draft because of the nature of how many spots you're realistically looking to evolve.

It's not just edge rushers the Falcons need to be after, either (though that should be priority No. 1). They also need to consider the days when David Onyemata and Grady Jarrett have aged out. It's a tough reality, but one the Falcons have to face as Onyemata and Jarrett carry cap savings that would be significant to a team without much space to play with this offseason and a lot of holes to fill.

I personally still think the impact of those two guys on the team in 2025 outweighs the savings you would receive by not having them on the roster, but I am not the one making decisions. Regardless of if the time comes to part ways this season or in the future, that future will come. Do the Falcons have what they need in players like Ruke Orhorhoro and Zach Harrison to carry on the position?

And what of the inside linebackers? A part of the front-7, Atlanta's best pressure player came from this group with Kaden Elliss last season. With one year left on his contract, and the jury still out on Troy Andersen, figuring out the standings of this position group may not be an immediate need (as finding pressure up front is), but give it a year and it'll rise up the checklist.

The spot the Falcons are in right now defensively is not as easy as simply going out and getting one singular edge rusher to fix all of their defensive problems. That's not how this thing works. But hey... one may help if they can hit on one. The issue has been that in the last decade, there hasn't been many hits in this category. The Falcons really need one this offseason.

Pressure in the backend

While the Falcons are looking to restock their defensive front, they also have to contend with doing something similar in the secondary simultaneously. There is a chance the Falcons could flip three starters, one at corner, safety and maybe even nickel.

Justin Simmons was only on a one-year deal. Richie Grant hits the free agency market this offseason. Only Jessie Bates III and DeMarcco Hellams return for sure, and who knows what type of player Hellams returns as after a season-ending ankle injury kept him off the field all season.

At cornerback, the Falcons have A.J. Terrell locked in for the long-term, but Mike Hughes will be a free agent. I don't hate the idea of bringing Hughes back another year if the Falcons find they need to prioritize the defensive front with their offseason moves, but a running mate for Terrell is something they'll have to face at some point.

Then, there's the nickel discussion. Dee Alford has been serviceable for Atlanta these last two years, but at times reliability at the position has dropped for one reason or another. With a new coordinator coming in who values that spot in his scheming, I am curious to see how this position, specifically, evolves and if its Alford who evolves with it.

Pressure to bring the band back together

For this front office, rewarding players in their own building has been a staple of the last couple offseason decisions; think the contracts doled out to Chris Lindstrom and A.J. Terrell following the latter days of their rookie deals.

The main person who falls into this category this offseason is center Drew Dalman, and there could be great value in bringing him back.

I cannot stress how rare it is in this league to have a full offensive front five stay together from one season to the next with the same coach, let alone the fact it could happen for a third straight year in Atlanta. That would happen if the Falcons bring back Dalman.

Keeping this group together — a group that has produced at a solid clip, particularly in the run game — is reason No. 1. to consider a Dalman return. Reason No. 2 is the connection with Dalman and starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

I think the best way to set Penix up for success is establishing that center/quarterback connection with someone of experience and similar calmness and having that connection span seasons, not just three games. If the Falcons are going to make a move at center, Dalman has shown he's reliable at the position and worth putting effort into bringing back. The problem, though, is that Dalman could fetch a heftier price than some may have thought when he was originally drafted four years ago. Are the Falcons even able to be in the market to bring him back?

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 prepares to take a snap from offensive lineman Drew Dalman #67 during the first quarter of the Week 17 Game against the Washington Commanders at Commanders Field in Greater Landover, Maryland on Sunday, December 29, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

Pressure to acquire more capital

The Falcons have a lot of holes to fill this offseason. I've already laid out many of them. However, the problem facing the team right now that I alluded to earlier is that there may be too many holes to fill and not enough resources to fill them in one offseason. Particularly because you're talking about premiere positions (read: expensive) like edge rusher, cornerback, etc.

As of Feb. 10, OverTheCap.com has the Falcons in the red, to the tune of being just over $11 million over the cap. As of the same date, the Falcons only have five draft picks, having lost a pick in a tampering violation last offseason and trading one away for Matthew Judon. Two of those five picks are seventh rounders.

The main idea? The Falcons need more.

They need more cap space to work with and they need more draft picks.

I tend to think the cap can be manipulated, and based off some of the contracts the Falcons have going right now I do think they have the capabilities to move money around to free up more space. That doesn't seem to be the biggest issue because you've seen teams have to do more with a lot less. It's acquiring more picks in the 2025 Draft that I see being more complicated because it involves actively giving something up to acquire something else.

Do the Falcons have players (or draft positions) other teams covet? I think so. But the better question is do the Falcons have enough of either to make a move worthwhile?

Pressure to back up words with action

Everything I have written to this point are valid discussion items around the Falcons offseason roster-building strategy and where the Falcons are organizationally. However, all of these moves (or potential moves) mean nothing if the Falcons do not win more games in 2025. Ultimately, that has to be the biggest priority above all, because — like I have mentioned throughout this article's entirety — the pressure is on.

And this is not my personal creed. It's exactly what general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris said in their own end-of-season press conferences. Their main talking point more than anything was that everything they say at this point in the offseason is a moot point if wins don't come together during the regular season.

That's why this final segment may be the most important note of all for the Falcons in 2025.

Join us as we take a look back on our favorite photos from the Atlanta Falcons' 2024-2025 season.

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