OFFENSE
Michael Penix Jr. | Kirk Cousins | Easton Stick
These three feel like a given, especially if the Falcons think there’s any chance they could trade Kirk Cousins early into the season. Easton Stick has history as a backup and showed this preseason he can operate Atlanta’s offense. Keeping Stick means the backup plan even has a backup plan. And this way, there’s no risk of losing Stick to another team.
Bijan Robinson | Tyler Allgeier | Carlos Washington Jr.
To be completely honest, before the Falcons revealed their initial wave of cuts, I only had Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier listed above. I was OK with compromising on offense so the defense could keep all its depth. Well, after defensive lineman Morgan Fox was released, I circled back and added Carlos Washington Jr. here. He was having such a strong training camp before his hamstring injury that I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt, much like I do with wide receiver Darnell Mooney, which you’ll see in the next section. As for Nathan Carter, an undrafted free agent who stepped up in Washington’s absence, get him more experience on the practice squad and elevate him when he’s ready. Considering they were both undrafted free agents, Carter could take notes from Washington’s career path.
Drake London | Darnell Mooney | Ray-Ray McCloud III | KhaDarel Hodge | Casey Washington | David Sills V
Before last Friday’s injury update on McGary, I went back and forth on whether to put Darnell Mooney in one of the “injured reserve – designated to return” slots due to his shoulder injury. However, I decided not to even before the news because of how Morris phrased his latest update on Mooney. Morris said last Wednesday the Falcons “got at least another week to hold on for him.” To me, that sounds like Mooney has been on a “better safe than sorry” plan for the preseason. Although he hasn’t participated since getting hurt, Mooney has been present at practice in street clothes. The same can’t be said about a lot of the other injured players. I’m choosing to be optimistic about Mooney’s return.
Speaking of choices, I chose David Sills V over Jamal Agnew. Sills has had more of a standout training camp, really making splash plays on the offense. The fact Morris said he wanted Sills to get special teams reps in exhibition makes me think he, along with the rest of the coaching staff, needed to confirm Sills could be an asset there, too. That was always a given for Agnew, who’s a well-known returner. But Sills ultimately gets the nod here because he has proven to be helpful on both offense and special teams.
Kyle Pitts | Charlie Woerner | Teagan Quitoriano
I debated picking only two tight ends, like I did with the running backs. Again, the thought there being that the offense must make sacrifices for the defense. But given the recent injury news with the offensive line, having another big body like Teagan Quitoriano available to block like Charlie Woerner does was too appealing. I went with Quitoriano over Feleipe Franks, too, just because the former seemed to have received more first-team reps during training camp.
Jake Matthews | Matthew Bergeron | Ryan Neuzil | Chris Lindstrom | Elijah Wilkinson | Jovaughn Gwyn | Jack Nelson
Elijah Wilkinson easily makes the cut because he filled in for McGary immediately after he was carted off the practice field last Wednesday and because – oddly enough – he did not play in the preseason finale out of precaution last Friday. Putting two and two together, he’s the next man up with Norton also out. Rookie draft pick Jack Nelson has history playing guard and tackle, so he can be developed and maybe be a backup option, too. Jovaughn Gwyn, meanwhile, has played center and guard. The Falcons need a center backup since last season’s, Ryan Neuzil, is now the starter. Basically, these latter two ensure there’s a depth piece at any position.
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