Kirk Cousins ​​improves Falcons’ QB space, rest of offense is…

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have selected offensive players — four at skill positions, including quarterback — in the top 10 of each of the last four NFL drafts. So far, that strategy has not yielded positive results.

In three years under head coach Arthur Smith, the Falcons went 21-30 — three straight 7-10 seasons — and did not make the playoffs. Smith was fired after last season and Raheem Morris, the former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator and former Falcons assistant and interim coach, was hired in his place.

Morris, who will bring most of his staff from the Rams, isn’t the only major change. The Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​to a free-agent deal in March that will pay him about $100 million in guaranteed money. Cousins ​​will anchor the center spot on a team that has struggled at quarterback in recent years. He represents the hope that he’s the missing piece these first-rounders need to reach their potential. He’ll try to lead Atlanta to its first winning record since 2017.

Here’s a look at where the roster sits after minicamp, and whether each position group is the same, better or worse.

Quarterbacks

Ghosts:Taylor Heinicke

Losses:Desmond Ridder, Logan Woodside

Additions:Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr.

Better, worse or the same? Better

No other quarterback position has improved as much. Why? Because not only did the Falcons sign Cousins, a productive and proven veteran, but they also selected a top-tier college quarterback in Penix with the No. 8 overall pick.

Atlanta’s present and future at the position should be solid, and that’s not something the team could have said since Matt Ryan held the position before being traded in 2022. Only two quarterbacks have thrown more touchdowns since 2020 than Cousins: Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

Plus, Cousins’ four-year, $180 million contract looks more appealing given the recent activity in the QB market. Suddenly, general manager Terry Fontenot doesn’t seem so ill-advised about locking down the sport’s most important job for long.

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Receivers

Ghosts: Drake London, Kha Darel Hodge, Chris Blair

Losses: Scotty Miller, Van Jefferson, Mack Hollins, Frank Darby, Damiere Byrd

Additions:Darnell Mooney, Rondale Moore, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Casey Washington, Josh Ali, Isaiah Wooden

Better, worse or the same? Better

One of the Falcons’ biggest priorities this offseason, outside of acquiring a quarterback, was adding a No. 2 receiver to complement London. Atlanta feels like it accomplished that with Mooney, who arrived as a free agent from the Chicago Bears.

Moore, who was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for Ridder, and McCloud are also expected to play roles in the offense.

The Falcons selected Washington in the sixth round, and he showed promise this spring. There are a few other names who will be battling for a roster spot in training camp in a group that is at least faster than it was a year ago.

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The running backs

Ghosts:Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier

Losses: Cordarrelle Patterson, Godwin Igwebuike, Keith Smith

Additions:Avery Williams, Carlos Washington Jr., Jase McClellan, Robert Burns

Better, worse or the same? Better

Patterson is a solid player who has since joined Smith, who is now the offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers. But barring a sophomore slump, Robinson should be even better in his second year.

He said in the spring that he expected to be used much like San Francisco uses Christian McCaffrey, which piqued the interest of Falcons fans, as well as fantasy football fans.

Allgeier is also a very good back with a 1,000-yard rushing season under his belt. They should form a formidable duo in this new-look offense, led by offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

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Tight ends

Ghosts: Kyle Pitts, John FitzPatrick

Losses:Jonnu Smith, MyCole Pruitt, Parker Hesse, Tucker Fisk

Additions: Charlie Woerner, Austin Stogner, Ross Dwelley

Better, worse or the same? Even

If Pitts can return to the form he showed as a record-setting rookie, then this unit will certainly be better than it was in 2023. But otherwise, it will be much of the same.

The Falcons added Woerner and Dwelley, two former San Francisco 49ers players better known for their blocking than their catching abilities. The TE room is clearly built around Pitts, though. He’ll split into receiver positions at times, and Robinson plans to use him in a variety of ways. It can’t hurt that Pitts expects him to have the best quarterback play of his career with Cousins.

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Offensive line

Ghosts: Jake Matthews, Chris Lindstrom, Drew Dalman, Kaleb McGary, Matthew Bergeron, Tyler Vrabel, Storm Norton, Ryan Neuzil, John Leglue, Kyle Hinton, Jovaughn Gwyn

Losses: Prince Isaiah

Additions:Jaryd Jones-Smith, Barry Wesley, Andrew Stueber, Ryan Coll

Better, worse or the same? Even

The Falcons are bringing back their entire offensive line from last season, and that’s a good thing.

Led by left tackle Matthews and guard Lindstrom, Atlanta has one of the best groups in the NFL. Lindstrom is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and Matthews is a hard-working veteran who has been with the team since it went to the Super Bowl eight years ago. Dalman is a steady pivot, McGary is a solid run blocker at right tackle and Bergeron is someone Morris said has improved significantly since his rookie season in 2023.