Positions of need
Wide receiver: Outside of Kirk Cousins’ contract, the Falcons spent much of their cap space this offseason on rebuilding the wide receiver position. This was a serious undertaking considering Drake London was the only receiver under contract from 2023 into 2024. What began as a one-person room when the new league year began has since turned into a core of five a week later, a much faster core of five at that. And even with the position increasing in size numerically, there may still be room for more.
Could that “more” come by way of the draft? Funny you should ask. That’s one of the biggest questions remaining for this unit, which is the final section of this article.
Viable options on Day 1 of 2024 NFL Draft at WR position: Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Malik Nabers (LSU), Rome Odunze (Washington), Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU), Adonai Mitchell (Texas), Ladd McConkey (Georgia), Xavier Worthy (Texas), Keon Coleman (FSU)
Offensive linemen: The five-person starting unit of Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary is not likely to change to begin the 2024 season this fall. That group is as sure a position as the Falcons have. They have shown to be successful together, and there are few offensive lines across the league that have as many game reps experienced together as this group.
When speaking to offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, though, he said one of his primary goals this season was to really firm up depth beyond this starting five. Why? Well, this is the National Football League, after all. To start and finish the season with the same core five is a notion to hope for but never guaranteed. Very rarely does it happen just because of the nature of the position itself. Injuries happen. They happened last year. And yet, through the stepping in of players like Norton at tackle and Neuzil at center, the Falcons didn’t really miss a beat up front.
Perhaps that’s why Norton and Neuzil are back. However, there is the belief that one can never have too many linemen. So, yes, even in the sure footing this position group has going into 2024, the line of scrimmage is always going to be a position of need no matter how good you feel about the starters.
Viable options on Day 1 of 2024 NFL Draft at OL position: Olumuyiwa Fashanu (OT, Penn State), Joe Alt (OT, Notre Dame), Taliese Fuaga (OT/OG, Oregon State), JC Latham (OT, Alabama), Amarius Mims (OT, Georgia),…
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