ATLANTA FALCONS 2021 WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

Arthur Smith begins his first campaign as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and, many times, that upgrade alone can lead to a significant win increase. Smith comes over from the Tennessee Titans, a prolific offense that boasted a run game he will not be able to recreate in Atlanta with free agent running back Mike Davis.

Atlanta didn’t help its chances by dealing the best wide receiver in team history (Julio Jones) in a trade to Smith’s former team. Good franchises work within the salary cap to keep their stars and bad ones do this; ship guys out for pennies on the dollar. It’s an inglorious beginning for Smith and new general manager Terry Fontenot.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Last season: 4-12, fourth place NFC South

2021 odds: over 7.5 wins -115, under 7.5 wins -115

2021 NFL Draft: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida – Round 1, Richie Grant, Safety, UCF – Round 2, Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan – Round 3, Darren Hall, CB, San Diego State – Round 4, Ta’Quon Graham, DT, Texas – Round 5, Adeteokunbo Ogundeji, DE, Notre Dame – Round 5, Avery Williams, CB, Boise State – Round 5, Frank Darby, WR, Arizona State – Round 6

UDFAs: J.R. Pace, CB – Northwestern, Javian Hawkins, RB – Louisville, Marcus Murphy, Safety – Mississippi State, Eli Howard, DE – Texas Tech, Alani Pututau, DE – Adams State, Antonio Nunn, WR – Buffalo, Caleb Huntley, RB – Ball State, Ryan Neuzil, OL – Appalachian State, Erroll Thompson, LB – Mississippi State, John Raine, TE – Arkansas, Jack Batho IV, OT – South Dakota School of Mines, Austin Trammell, WR – Rice, Dwyane Johnson Jr, Safety – San Diego State, Bryce Hargrove, OL – Pittsburgh, Joe Sculthorp, OL – NC State, Kion Smith, OT – Fayetteville State, Zac Dawe, DT – BYU, Kobe Jones, Edge – Mississippi State, Dorian Etheridge, LB – Louisville

Acquisitions: Duron Harmon, Safety – Free Agent, Mike Davis, RB – Free Agent, Lee Smith, TE – Trade, Cordarelle Patterson, WR/KR – Free Agent, Erik Harris, Safety – Free Agent, Barkevious Mingo, Edge – Free Agent, Brandon Copeland, LB – Free Agent, Jonathan Bullard, DL – Free Agent, Josh Andrews, Center – Free Agent, Fabian Moreau, CB – Free Agent, George Obinna, Edge – Free Agent, John Atkins, DL – Free Agent, A.J. McCarren, QB – Free Agent

Key Losses: Julio Jones – WR, Alex Mack – Center, Todd Gurley – RB, Ricardo Allen – Safety, James Carpenter – RG, Matt Schaub – QB, Laquon Treadwell – WR, Ito Smith – RB, Damontae Kazee – Safety, Brandon Powell – WR

PRESUMED STARTERS

QB: Matt Ryan

RB: Mike Davis

WR: Calvin Ridley

WR: Russell Gage

WR: Tajae Sharpe

TE: Kyle Pitts

FB: Keith Smith

LT: Jake Matthews

LG: Matt Gono

C: Matt Hennessy

RG: Chris Lindstrom

RT: Kaleb McGary

LDE: Jacob Tuioti-Mariner

LDT: Grady Jarrett

RDT: Tyeler Davison

RDE: Dante Fowler, Jr.

OLB: Mykal Walker

MLB: Deion Jones

OLB: Foyesade Oluokun

CB: A.J. Terrell

CB: Kendall Sheffield

SS: Richie Grant

FS: Duron Harmon

K: Younghoe Koo

P: Sterling Hofrichter

FORECAST

Outside of the defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFC South is a mess and the Falcons, regardless of how they’ve screwed up over recent years, have the offensive roster to take advantage of it. Add to that a last place schedule and better offensive play design/calling and you have a recipe for a potential playoff run. They couldn’t ask for a better slate of games out the gate, opening at home against the Jalen Hurts-led Philadelphia Eagles before meeting the Tampa buzzsaw. But, after that, it’s the New York Giants, Washington Football Team and New York Jets all before their bye. That looks like a potential 4-1 start to me before they even meet up with the Carolina Panthers or Drew Brees-less New Orleans Saints.

Final Record Prediction: 10-7, potential NFC Wild Card team

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