Falcons training camp is this week, and it’s the first time in years that fans expect to make the playoffs. Raheem Morris enters his second stint as a head coach with no grace period; it’s either win the division or face difficult questions, potentially even job security ones.
With every training camp comes notable developments, breakout candidates and cut candidates. I’ll tackle the latter in this piece with six notable players who could be cut from the final 53-man roster.
Lorenzo Carter
I don’t expect Lorenzo Carter to be cut because his position group is that weak. However, acting like Carter is irreplaceable is foolish. The Falcons have a number of edge defenders that could potentially show enough in training camp to make Carter expendable. Bralen Trice, DeAngelo Malone, and even a bigger edge like Zach Harrison could force Atlanta’s hand. I still don’t see the Falcons moving on from the veteran even if it saves them nearly $4 million against the cap.
Ta’Quon Graham
The interior defensive line is actually a crowded room and could result in the 2021 fifth-round pick being on the outside looking in. The Texas product suffered an MCL injury in 2022, a promising season that ended prematurely. However, he returned in 2023 and wasn’t the same player. If improvement doesn’t happen in 2024, the Falcons could see the $1 million savings as more attractive than Graham on the roster. Nearly every other member of his draft class is gone, and he could be next.
Avery Williams
Another member of Terry Fontenot’s first draft class, the special teams ace has a role on this club, but the offseason acquisitions of Ray-Ray McCloud and Rondale Moore make Avery Williams expendable. He’s coming off an ACL injury that he suffered last offseason, but he was undoubtedly one of the best returners in football before the injury. If he hasn’t lost a step, Williams should make the roster.
Richie Grant
Yeah, another member of the 2021 draft class, Grant lost his starting position to a rookie seventh-round pick in DeMarrco Hellams last year. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, this is literally a make-it-or-break-it season for Grant. With a new coaching staff, the Falcons safety could finally prove that he’s worthy of his draft status.
DeAngelo Malone
A third-round pick from the 2022 draft class, Malone could find himself on the roster bubble. He only took two snaps on defense last season, the other 364 snaps were on special teams. The Falcons drafted Bralen Trice in the third round and signed James Smith-Williams in free agency, which could mean Malone’s days are numbered unless he distinguishes himself on special teams once again.
Taylor Heinicke
With Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. in the fold, Heinicke seems expendable. There’s no real reason to keep three quarterbacks on any roster in today’s NFL, especially for a team like the Falcons, whose hopes of winning the NFC South rest on Cousins’ shoulders. Now, if Penix is that far behind the eight ball, I could see a scenario where Heinicke is the immediate backup. If that were the case, it wouldn’t be encouraging for Penix’s future. Even still, cutting Heinicke would be a terrible look for the Falcons, when they certainly have the ability to trade him to a team that does need a competent backup.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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