Coming into the offseason, the Falcons‘ top priority was solidifying the quarterback position. Arthur Blank, Terry Fontenot, and Raheem Morris all acknowledged the elephant in the room.
The club inquired about potentially trading up in the draft but ultimately pivoted when it became that none of the top teams were going to come off their picks. The Falcons’ top target? Kirk Cousins.
Blank enabled Fontenot to go further than the Vikings were willing, beating Minnesota’s offer by guaranteed money, years, and average annual value. The Falcons got their guy, but it wasn’t the only pressing need.
Cousins needed someone to throw to, and Atlanta’s GM acquired Darnell Mooney, who inked a three-year deal to join Drake London and Kyle Pitts in the Falcons’ receiving core.
The acquisition has rounded out that side of the ball, with maybe a couple of more moves in waiting, potentially another starting-caliber reciever. Still, it’s close to 90% complete, and it looks like it should be one of the top units in 2024; at least, that’s what it says on paper.
The Falcons’ offense ranks as the 8th most expensive unit in the league.
Most expensive offenses in 2024:
1. $188.8M – Browns
2. $178.1M – Rams
3. $158.3M – Cowboys
4. $152.8M – Chiefs
5. $151.1M – Broncos
6. $148.5M – Giants
7. $146.5M – Cardinals
8. $141.6M – Falcons
9. $138.5M – 49ers
10. $135.9M – Colts
11. $135.2M – Panthers
12. $133.0M – Saints…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 22, 2024
Here are the top 10 offensive cap hits for 2024, and their overall ranking on the team via Spotrac:
- 1) Kirk Cousins: $25MM
- 2) Jake Matthews: $21.8MM
- 4) Chris Lindstrom: $18MM
- 6) Kaleb McGary: $12.5MM
- 9) Kyle Pitts: $10.5MM
- 10) Taylor Heinicke: $9MM
- 12) Darnell Mooney: $7.5MM
- 13) Drake London: $5.9MM
- 15) Bijan Robinson $5MM
- 19) Drew Dalman: $3.3MM
Three of the top five and six of the top ten cap hits are on the offensive side of the ball. The Falcons are also paying their backup quarterback $9 million this season. That kind of flexibility is only possible because of the cheap contracts of Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson.
The club should have quite the productive offensive unit this year; hopefully, Terry Fontenot can work some magic to upgrade the defense because the Falcons are clearly in a win-now mode.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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