The Falcons have made the biggest move of the offseason thus far, agreeing in principle to a massive four-year, $180 million deal with Kirk Cousins.
With the quarterback position squared away, Terry Fontenot can now surround him with as much talent as possible because the acquisition clearly signals the team is trying to win right now.
There are still a couple of holes to patch up in free agency. The Falcons need another starting-caliber receiver, a starting-caliber cornerback to compete with Clark Phillips, a rotational edge defender depending on what they do with Lorenzo Carter, and safety before entering April’s draft season.
Once there, Fontenot will be in a position to take the best player available. Whether that’s the top defender, trading out of the pick, taking the best tackle on the board, or possibly even selecting the team’s fourth straight skill player in the top 10.
Regardless of who the pick is, it should certainly help Kirk Cousins in some capacity. In the latest mock draft from The Athletic, the Falcons take the most dynamic pass catcher in the draft — Malik Nabers.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Jackpot. The Falcons’ decision to bypass the QB draft derby by paying Cousins allows them to more or less go all in with this young core. How’s a playmking group of Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Nabers sound? If Cousins can’t figure it out with that group, then … well, we’re not going to go there.
This also could wind up being a great trade-back spot for Atlanta, which suddenly has a lot of draft flexibility.
In 2023, Nabers was graded as PFF’s top receiver in the country following a campaign in which he caught 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns. The guy had 34 receptions that went more than 20 yards, leading the country.
He was named a consensus All-American and became LSU’s career leader for catches and receiving yards — ahead of Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Nabers isn’t short on confidence either.
“I am able to play outside, inside, go against eight corners a game, and still put up big numbers, at the end of the day,” Nabers said. “A different offense can move me around, and (I) still got that dawg mentality.”
The Falcons offense would be must-watch TV every Sunday, reminiscent of that loaded 2016 offense.
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Photographer: John Korduner/Icon Sportswire
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