The Atlanta Falcons are entering a huge season with a young quarterback. What are the biggest questions on the roster?
Do they have an answer at center?
The Falcons were comfortable with Ryan Nuezil because he started eight games last season, but he is a third-year UDFA with 11 career starts, so there is a question about how he will handle full-time duties as a starter with tape on him. They did not replace Drew Dalman, but the rest of the line is in place, so he is the big question. Is he ready?
Was it smart to keep Kirk Cousins?
The only reason the Falcons would move on from Kirk Cousins now is for an exceptional pick. There are no players to spend the cap space from his salary on, and if they eat his salary this year, it could make him easier to move next year. They may be in a division race with a second-year quarterback who did not start until late last year, but it is not awful to have a veteran, and they showed they can put together a roster with the hit.
What does a Drake London ceiling season look like?
Drake London went from 866 yards to 905 up to 1,271 last year, and he did not even have a legitimate quarterback through most of his career. Whatever you think of Michael Penix, he is going to start and hopefully finish the whole year, and London has not had that. They did not add any new skill players so the offense will flow through him, and now they have a quarterback who can make that happen. He may be a stud in fantasy football.
Who starts at safety?
The Falcons lost Richie Grant, but brought in Jordan Fuller in free agency and then drafted Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman. Bowman may compete with Dee Alfrod in the slot, so it may come to Fuller against Watts to start in the box with Jessie Bates deep. Who wins? The Falcons would likely want to see the third-round rookie.
Are the rookies ready to rebuild the defense?
The Falcons went all-in on Jalon Walker and James Pearce. They traded their future first to have both pass rushers on the field this year if the team is in a playoff push. Walker played linebacker in college and will line up from the edge, while Pearce has questions of run defense and may be a pass rush specialist. Will the cost be worth it?
