Atlanta

Falcons

Pitts logged positional top-six perimeter (26.4 percent) and slot (58.5 percent) rates, with a bottom-four in-line rate (14.9 percent) last year, per PFF, so the news comes as affirming rather than breaking. While his slot rate is already sky-high, increased opportunities against linebackers and safeties would be positive. Perhaps the biggest item of note in Ledbetter’s report, HC Zac Robinson expressed excitement over Pitts’ blocking potential. Improved run-blocking would allow the Falcons to keep Pitts on-field for the position’s high-value play-action snaps, keeping defenses guessing about his role pre-snap. Fantasy managers should monitor Pitts’ reported run-blocking development through training camp.

The Falcons’ offensive coordinator nearly parroted Bijan Robinson’s comments earlier this offseason about the Falcons’ plans to use him like the 49ers use Christian McCaffrey. Robinson is “going to play running back first and foremost,” but it sounds like there will also be plenty of attempts to get him more involved in the passing game. As a rookie, Robinson caught saw the third-most targets (86) and caught the sixth-most passes (59) of any running back last season. He finished as the RB16 in fantasy points per game but could trend closer to a high-end RB1 in an offense that’s expected to be much better with Kirk Cousins now at the helm. Any additional work in the passing game will only raise what is already a very high fantasy ceiling for Robinson entering this season.

Drake London reiterated Hilliard’s objectives, saying the “ball’s gonna be in the air” and “slow feet don’t eat.” The Falcons’ new OC Zac Robinson, formerly the Rams’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helped guide the Rams 2023 offense to NFL’s highest 11 personnel (three wide receivers) snap count (1,144) while utilizing a 60.4 percent passing rate in one-score games, 5.6 percent higher than the Falcons’ 54.8 percent rate. Waack noted slot receiver Rondale Moore and downfield specialist Darnell Mooney’s respective 4.29- and 4.38-second 40-yard dashes. The trio, side-kicked by Kyle Pitts (4.44 seconds at Florida’s pro day), possess the requisite speed to achieve Hilliard’s goal.

ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported McCloud, a journeyman entering his seventh NFL season, “performed well” in three-wideout sets during minicamp, connecting with Kirk Cousins for several big plays. Atlanta’s receiver room, as recently noted by Rotoworld’s Patrick Daugherty, is ominously thin entering the regular season. An injury to Darnell Mooney or Drake London could open up a starting role for McCloud — traditionally a kicker returner — in what will be a pass-first Falcons offense. He had 36 catches for 379 yards in two seasons with the 49ers before signing with the Falcons this spring.

Per Jordan Schultz, the deal includes a $13.46 million signing bonus. The Falcons shocked fans, and starting QB Kirk Cousins alike, by selecting Penix with the No. 8 overall pick. An NFL-ready passer, Penix’s 90.5 PFF passing grade, 7.3% big-time-throw rate and 10.7-yard average depth of target rank top-six among 35 Power Five quarterbacks with at least 370 dropbacks in 2023. Penix is equipped to run the offense, should complications arise during Cousins’ rehabilitation from an Achilles tendon rupture, suffered by his right plant-foot.

Emili just finished the season with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas. Emili bullied UFL offensive linemen as a three-down player, leading UFL defensive tackles with 14 run-defense stops while ranking sixth in pass-rush win rate (9.8%) and second in pass-rush productivity (6.8) among UFL defensive tackles with at least 100 run-defense and pass rushing snaps, respectively. His Brahmas squad produced a 7-3 regular season record, eventually losing the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL’s championship game. Emili has a chance to compete for the No. 3 defensive tackle role behind Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata.

Morris, like other Atlanta coaches this offseason, emphasized Robinson as a centerpiece of the team’s new offense under OC Zac Robinson. “In as simple of a form as you can possibly make it,” Morris said, “it’s ‘get the ball to Bijan as much as you can in as many ideal situations that you possibly can.’” It’s clear the new Falcons regime will do everything it can to feed Robinson, who totaled 1,463 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns as a rookie. Unlike former head coach Arthur Smith, Morris’ staff seems intent on seeing what they have in Robinson. Tyler Allgeier likely won’t have much of a role in the Falcons backfield unless Robinson misses time in 2024.

Washington wasn’t on many draft radars this offseason, but the Falcons went out and selected the former Illinois Illini with the No. 187 overall pick in this year’s draft, giving him a chance to make the 53-man roster this offseason. In addition to the praise heaped on Washington by London, Falcons beat writer, Daniel Flick, noted that Washington also took first and second-team snaps during the middle of OTAs, and had the chance to catch passes from Kirk Cousins and rookie first rounder Michael Penix. Washington still has a long way to go to break camp with the 53-man roster. We’ll see how things shape up next month once the pads come on for training camp.

Campbell has mulled retirement for the last several seasons but is now set to join the Dolphins on what is likely a one-year deal. The soon-to-be 38-year-old totaled 6.5 sacks and 10 TFLs in his lone season with the Falcons and is now ready to return to Miami, where he played in college ball from 2005-2007. Campbell should provide immediate help along the interior for a defense that lost defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to the Raiders via free agency and continues to play at a high enough level to be an impact player. Amongst defensive linemen who played at least 300 snaps last season, Calais ranked 39th with a defensive grade of 80.0.

Smith appeared in 11 games for the Falcons last season, totaling 19 tackles. The veteran linebacker has played in 62 career games since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in 2018 and has just one career start to his name. If he makes the Broncos’ 53-man roster, it will likely be as a contributor on special teams.