JANUARY 11, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
ATLANTA FALCONS 6-5 · 1ST IN NFC SOUTH
6-5 · 1ST IN NFC SOUTH
Next Game vs Chargers ·
Sun, December 1st 6:00PM
Sun, December 1st 6:00PM
ATL +1.5 TOTAL 46.5
Tracking the Falcons: Ranking the top five GM candidates Who could be the best fit for the Atlanta Falcons at general manager as the team heads into a new direction?
Falcons continue coach search, interview Titans' OC Smith ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have interviewed Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for their head coaching job.
JANUARY 11, 2021 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM
Falcons continue coach search, interview Titans’ OC Smith The Atlanta Falcons have interviewed Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for their head coaching job.
JANUARY 11, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM
Falcons continue search, interview Arthur Smith, Todd Bowles
The Atlanta Falcons have interviewed Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Todd Bowles for their head coaching jobJANUARY 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former Falcons HC Dan Quinn to interview for Cowboys DC job The Atlanta Falcons have yet to find their new head coach or general manager but have been diligently looking to fill the vacancies left by...
JANUARY 11, 2021 • USATODAY.COM
Why the Falcons can't realistically move QB Matt Ryan With the Falcons’ offseason in full swing, the rumors have already started swirling regarding Matt Ryan’s future in Atlanta.
JANUARY 11, 2021 • USATODAY.COM
Starts at center Weeks 16 and 17 Hennessy registered his second consecutive start during Atlanta's 44-27 Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, concluding his 2020 campaign with 13 game appearances.
Impact With Alex Mack (concussion/illness) ruled out for Weeks 16 and 17, Hennessy logged the first two starts of his NFL career. The Temple standout joined Atlanta as a third-round draft choice in last April's draft, and he could inherit a more integral role in 2021, given that Mack will become an unrestricted free agent in March.
JANUARY 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Suits up for 16 games in 2020 Matthews logged his 16th start of the season during Atlanta's 44-27 Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers.
Impact Matthews again proved to be durable during his seventh pro campaign out of Texas A&M, fielding 100 percent of Atlanta's offensive snaps in 15 of 16 games. He enjoyed a relatively clean 2020, going without a holding penalty while drawing only two false start flags all season. The 28-year-old is under contract for three more seasons at an average cap hit of $19.4 million, as the Falcons' front five aims to improve upon a turbulent campaign. Atlanta ranked 31st at just 3.7 yards per carry as a team, finishing tied for 23rd with 41 sacks allowed.
JANUARY 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Terry Fontenot one of ‘two or three finalists’ for Falcons GM, per report Fontenot is the New Orleans Saints' vice president/assistant general manager of pro personnel
JANUARY 10, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
Appears in all 16 games for Atlanta Neasman, who registered four tackles during Atlanta's 44-27 Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, wrapped up the 2020 campaign with 27 tackles and one sack over 16 games.
Impact Neasman took on an enhanced defensive role as the year wore on, twice collecting 97-plus percent of the Falcons' defensive snaps over the final quarter of the regular season. Weeks 1 through 13, he only once garnered more than 40 percent of the workload, but injuries to Damontae Kazee (Achilles) and Darqueze Dennard (quadriceps) opened up secondary snaps down the stretch. Having played all 57 of his career NFL games as a member of the Falcons, Neasman will now prepare to become an unrestricted free agent in March.
JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Leads team with three INTS in 2020 Wreh-Wilson, who notched two tackles during Atlanta's 44-27 Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, closed out the 2020 season with nine tackles, four pass deflections and three intercepti...
Impact Wreh-Wilson delivered interceptions in Weeks 3, 8 and 14, providing the eight-year NFL veteran with the Falcons team lead in the category despite him not registering a single start all season. The UConn standout only exceeded 30 defensive snaps in three games, as Atlanta relied upon A.J. Terrell, Isaiah Oliver, Kendall Sheffield and Darqueze Dennard (quadriceps) for regular cornerback snaps. Wreh-Wilson is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March after pulling in $1.1 million in base salary during 2020.
JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Concludes 2020 with 28 tackles Cominsky, who did not record a tackle during Atlanta's 44-27 Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, ended the season with 28 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery over 13 games.
Impact Cominsky has inherited a steady rotational role along the defensive line as he enters the third frame of a four-year Falcons contract in 2021. The Charleston (WV) standout saw a huge increase in his usage during 2020, earning the first start of his NFL career while fielding 30.6 defensive snaps per game. As a rookie in 2019, Cominsky logged just 10 defensive snaps per contest while totaling 11 tackles over 10 appearances.
JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Tallies 31 tackles in 2020 Tuioti-Mariner notched one tackle during Atlanta's 44-27 Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, bringing him to a total of 31 tackles, one sack, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumbl...
Impact Tuioti-Mariner went without a start in 2020 after registering the first of his NFL career Week 17 of last season. He did, however, suit up for all 16 of the Falcons' contests this year, earning a workload of 32.4 defensive snaps per game. The UCLA standout spent 2018 and much of 2019 on Atlanta's practice squad. Tuioti-Mariner has since proven capable of establishing a consistent role on the active roster, as he now prepares to become an exclusive rights free agent in March.
JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Enjoys career year Means, who registered four tackles during Atlanta's 44-27 Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, concluded the 2020 season with 38 tackles, six QB hits, three sacks and two forced fumbles...
Impact Means had never started more than four games in a season over his first five active professional campaigns with the Buccaneers, Ravens, Eagles and Falcons between 2013 and 2018. He then went on to miss all of last season while recuperating from a ruptured Achilles. However, in 2020, the 30-year-old defensive end totaled 11 starts while establishing career highs with his totals in tackles, sacks and appearances. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent in March as Atlanta prepares to welcome in a new general manager.
JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Earns six starts during rookie year Walker registered two tackles during Atlanta's Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, closing out the 2020 season with 45 tackles, one pass deflection and a forced fumble over 16 games.
Impact The fourth-round rookie from Fresno State totaled six starts on the 2020 campaign, fielding a workload of 24.1 defensive snaps per game. Walker endured mixed results in coverage, as he conceded a 110.3 passer rating on a limited sample of 15 targets. He was, however, relatively reliable as a tackler, establishing a 4.3 percent missed tackle rate. Falcons linebackers Walker and Deion Jones each remain under contract through 2023, but Foyesade Oluokun only has one year left on his current deal.
JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Coverage struggles continue in 2020 Sheffield logged five tackles (four solo) during last Sunday's 44-27 loss to Tampa Bay, and he closed the 2020 campaign with 51 tackles, three pass deflections and a forced fumble...
Impact Sheffield remains without an interception over 29 NFL appearances, as Atlanta tied for 24th in the league with 11 forced INTs in 2020. Meanwhile, he's surrendered an average 73.6 percent completion rate and a passer rating of 114.7 over 125 career coverage targets. The 2019 fourth-round draft choice from Ohio State remains under contract for two more seasons, as Atlanta continues to develop its homegrown cornerback nucleus of Sheffield, A.J. Terrell and Isaiah Oliver.
JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ends 2020 campaign with 70 tackles Oliver collected two tackles (including one for loss) during last Sunday's 44-27 loss to the Buccaneers, and he wrapped up the 2020 campaign with 70 tackles, six pass deflections,...
Impact Oliver has been unable to collect an interception over 188 coverage targets the past two seasons, surrendering 12 passing touchdowns and 8.8 yards per target. The Colorado standout went without a game absence between 2019 and 2020, but he also conceded a passer rating of 113 or higher in each season. That's after Oliver held opponents to an 89.1 passer rating and two TDs (over 27 targets) his rookie year. The 2018 second-round draft choice is under contract with Atlanta for one more season before potentially becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2022.
JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Matt Ryan's record-breaking game ball on display at Pro Football Hall of Fame When the Atlanta Falcons took on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14, quarterback Matt Ryan surpassed Peyton Manning for the most passing ya...
JANUARY 9, 2021 • USATODAY.COM
Closes strong rookie campaign Terrell, who collected two tackles and a pass deflection during Atlanta's 44-27 Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, ended the 2020 season with 74 tackles, seven pass deflections, three...
Impact Terrell started in all 14 of his game appearances after Atlanta selected him 16th overall in last April's draft. The Clemson standout surrendered six touchdowns and a passer rating of 109.6 over 106 coverage targets this season, but he provided value in other areas of his game. The rookie's three forced fumbles ranked second on the team behind only Foyesade Oluokun, while his seven pass breakups represented a high among Falcons defenders this season. As a whole, Atlanta's defense aims to improve upon a 32nd-place finish against the pass, with continued improvement from Terrell playing a key role in that vision.
JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Calvin Ridley named second-team All-Pro In his third season, Ridley led the Falcons with 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns
JANUARY 8, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
Atlanta Falcons 2021 Mock NFL Draft Tracker Find out who experts across the country think the Falcons could select with the No. 4 pick
JANUARY 8, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
Tabeek's 2021 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Falcons draft 'explosive freakazoid of an athlete' The Falcons can address their biggest need by selecting a game-changing defender
JANUARY 8, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
Atlanta Falcons: One move we can all agree needs to happen One move all Atlanta Falcons fans should be able to agree needs to happen There's plenty of dissention among the Atlanta Falcons fan base as...
JANUARY 8, 2021 • BLOGGINGDIRTY.COM
Packers' Nathaniel Hackett gains Aaron Rodger's endorsement for Atlanta head-coaching job Nathaniel Hackett was interviewed by the Atlanta Falcons for their head coaching position on Thursday afternoon.
JANUARY 8, 2021 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM
Atlanta Falcons: This GM-Head Coach combination wins Super Bowls This GM-Head Coach combination wins Super Bowls for the Atlanta Falcons If the Atlanta Falcons want to win Super Bowls, they've got to have...
JANUARY 8, 2021 • BLOGGINGDIRTY.COM
