Edge Goes To Matt Ryan And Atlanta Falcons In 2022

Just a little over a year ago, the NFC South was the most formidable division in the NFL thanks to the presence of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints.

The Bucs had Tom Brady and were coming off an impressive Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Saints were one of the most consistent and impressive teams in the NFL. In addition to the presence of quarterback-coach combination of Drew Brees and Sean Payton, the Saints had been a playoff team in eight of the previous 12 seasons and were one of the toughest outs in the NFL.

Brady has retired and the Bucs have a major hole at quarterback. Every team faces major free-agent decisions, but the Bucs face a deluge in that area with players like wide receiver Chris Godwin, running back Leonard Fournette, tight end O.J. Howard and outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul all having an opportunity to test the market.

Brees retired after the 2020 season and Payton left the Saints at the end of last season. The once-prolific New Orleans offense is a shell of what it once was, and that will put significantly more pressure on the defense.

With both of those teams facing major issues, could the Atlanta Falcons step into the breach and take control of the division? This could happen as Matt Ryan returns at quarterback, and Kyle Pitts returns as one of the most productive tight ends in the league.

On the surface, it looks like Ryan is past his effective date. He will turn 37 before the 2022 season kicks off and he is scheduled to make $25.55 million next season ($16.25 million in salary, $9.3 million in signing bonus). However, owner Arthur Blank has always been a Ryan fan and he has indicated that he is not in a hurry to get rid of the quarterback.

Pitts caught 68 passes for 1,026 yards and a touchdown in his rookie season, and he is clearly a dangerous threat. While the Falcons need significant help at the wide receiver spot, they can address those holes during free agency and the NFL Draft.

If wideout Calvin Ridley returns to the Falcons after missing most of the season as a result of his decision to focus on his mental health, that would be an important upgrade to the team. If they add to Ridley’s presence by selecting a star wide receiver with the eighth pick in the first round such as Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson, the team’s weakness at the WR position becomes a major strength.

The Falcons have multiple positions to upgrade during the offseason, including both the offensive line and defensive line. They have to find pass rushers who can pressure and sack opposing quarterbacks, something they didn’t have in 2021. Outside linebacker Dante Fowler led the team with 4.5 sacks and no other Falcon defensive player had more than 2.0 sacks. Fowler was set to become a free agent at the start of the league year, but the Falcons have already released him and he has the ability to find a new deal earlier than many of his competitors.

Whatever pressure the Falcons had did not come from the defensive line. None of the defensive ends or tackles had more one sack last season. By failing to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the Atlanta secondary was at far more risk than it should have been.

General manager Terry Fontenot has to start turning the defensive front around if the Falcons have any chance at making a run at the NFC South title. While building up the defense is likely to be more than a one-year project, significant progress has to be made in 2022.

There is no doubt that the Falcons have major work to do in the offseason, but the presence of a veteran quarterback in Ryan could give them an advantage over the Bucs, Saints and Carolina Panthers. If Ryan gets decent protection from his offensive line and stays healthy, the Falcons will have something to build on that could result in an edge over their competitors in the NFC South.