1. Terry Fontenot’s draft approach
It wasn’t a secret heading into the Atlanta Falcons offseason the team’s biggest needs were at quarterback and edge rusher. The first issue the Falcons opted to solve twice by signing Kirk Cousins and drafting Penix. It isn’t a bad decision if you have a backup plan to fix the pass rush outside of a first-down selection.
Instead, the Falcons opted to use a late day two pick on an edge rusher who was injured before playing a snap for the Falcons. Now the team was left with a starting duo of Lorenzo Carter and Arnold Ebiketie. Fontenot made a move that we will cover in a moment to try to save what was a failed offseason at the position.
Despite all of this, you sit at 6-3 and have a chance at challenging for the conference if you can find a pass rush. It isn’t as if Fontenot uses any of Atlanta’s picks well in the first place go out and make an impact move. Instead, the Falcons sat idle and opted to simply hope they are able to breathe life into a pass rush desperate for help. This all to save draft picks that Atlanta is likely to waste in the first place.
2. Matthew Judon
It is now clear that the Falcons overpaid for Matthew Judon who has completely fallen out of favor with this defense. To start the year the trade appeared to be a steal with Judon making a game winning play against Derek Carr and adding in an early season sack. In the time since then, his failure to get to the quarterback has built and his snaps continue to go down.
For a team this desperate for a pass rush the fact Judon continues to fall out of favor is telling. There is some reason to question his effort and whether or not there is any chance things improve. Fontenot’s desperation for a pass rusher landed the Falcons Judon and it is now clear that was a whiff.
Again, considering Atlanta’s previous third-round selection it doesn’t come as a great loss. However, it should have been added urgency to get a deal done for a position you should have fixed in the offseason. The losses of Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree have had more impact than expected and each player you have started at the position has regressed. It is hard to get anything but better and instead you opt for your one move of note at a position of need to be a loss.
3. This ends Atlanta’s chance at relevance in the conference
If you cannot rush the passer you aren’t playing past the first two weeks of January. Outside of having a generational talent at the quarterback position. this remains true. In a passing league, you have to be able to get to the quarterback to have any hope of making a run. Atlanta’s pass rush is at the bottom of the league despite their 6-3 record.
This speaks to how great the offense has been and how this team continues to find ways to win. However, that luck is going to run out come playoff time if you’re unable to get to the quarterback. Fontenot betting on Atlanta’s current roster is going to be what keeps this team from having a chance at a deep playoff run.
Already having lost their 3rd and 5th round draft picks perhaps the Falcons were concerned with continuing to spend. However, this speaks to the problem with Atlanta’s current front office unwilling to commit to either direction. Neither pushing their chips to the center of the table attempting to win it all or looking to fully rebuild. A half-in-half-out strategy that prevented a trade deadline trade and ruined any hopes of this team making a magical run.
