The Falcons have their 90-man roster filled, but it is likely not done being tinkered with. Free agent additions in the Summer months are common in the NFL, and Terry Fontenot still has a couple of areas he can improve. Pro Football Focus’s Brad Spielberger sees them making one more splash before the season, adding Marcus Peters.
ATLANTA FALCONS: CB MARCUS PETERS
The Falcons were frequently projected to select one of the top cornerbacks in the draft at No. 8 overall but decided to add the electric Bijan Robinson at running back instead. They did draft slot cornerback Clark Phillips III early in the fourth round but, arguably, still need help on the outside opposite A.J. Terrell even after adding Mike Hughes and Jeff Okudah.
One of the league’s premier interception hawks at cornerback, Peters failed to record multiple picks for the first time in his career in 2022. The soon-to-be 30-year-old suffered a calf strain in December that sidelined him for the final three weeks of the regular season, but this was just his first season outside of 2021 where he didn’t log at least 900 snaps.
Ballhawk is an understatement. Marcus Peters is ultra-aggressive when the ball is in the air, logging an impressive 32 interceptions over his career; however, that aggressive style results in giving up big plays as well.
Moreover, he suffered a torn ACL in 2021 and wasn’t even close to his usual self upon return in 2022, allowing an opposing passer rating of 113.7 in coverage with the Ravens. Peters struggled, allowing 54 completions from 84 targets, per Pro Football Reference.
Entering his age-30 season, this is an extremely risky signing, but it’s not just the declining play and injury concern. Marcus Peters, like a lot of cornerbacks, boasts a bombastic personality and doesn’t fit the Falcons’ ethos at this point, especially given how impressionable a lot of Atlanta’s roster is.
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