As predicted by the person himself, Julio Jones is “outta there.” The Atlanta Falcons traded the longer term Corridor of Fame receiver to the Tennessee Titans in trade for draft picks, and that ends an period in North Georgia whereas blowing the door open for the potential starting of one other — contemplating the Falcons chosen highly-touted tight finish Kyle Pitts with the fourth-overall decide within the 2021 NFL Draft. Nobody is aware of what Pitts will probably be on the NFL stage, but when he’s as marketed, opposing defenses are in simply as a lot bother on the skilled stage as they have been in going through him throughout his days with the Florida Gators.

Pitts will need assistance, nevertheless, and he’ll have it — be it from Calvin Ridley and Hayden Hurst, and/or Russell Gage and newly-added operating again Mike Davis. The Todd Gurley experiment did not work out in 2020, however Davis joins the Falcons by means of the rival Carolina Panthers and is hellbent on ensuring Atlanta has a decent run sport that can enable Matt Ryan extra time to cook dinner.

So who will get the nod when it is time to lower down the roster to 53? Let’s take a stab at it forward of ultimate roster cutdowns.

Offense

It is the Pitts

Julio Jones is now gone and it will primarily be on receiver Calvin Ridley and fourth-overall decide Kyle Pitts to headline the passing assault for Matt Ryan. They’re going to have strong assist from Russell Gage and tight finish Hayden Hurst, each of whom have confirmed they will produce, however nobody can outright state the manufacturing misplaced within the commerce of Jones will by some means be immediately changed. Gamers should step up of their respective roles, which is able to make issues very fascinating for a Falcons offense that Ryan himself admitted can be bizarre with out Jones within the combine. And so far as Ryan goes, his contract restructure was a vote of confidence by the Falcons however common supervisor Terry Fontenot additionally needs to develop somebody behind him — a key purpose I do not see Feleipe Franks being a roster casualty, even with the addition of Josh Rosen. 

Can the Falcoms win with out Julio Jones? Will Kyle Pitts dwell as much as the hype? Obtain the CBS Sports activities app and get the newest information, insights, and shocking predictions from our crew of consultants. If you have already got the CBS Sports activities app, set the Falcons as your favourite crew to get information even quicker.

Protection 

New coach, new plan

Dan Quinn is now with the Dallas Cowboys, and he took assistant Joe Whitt, Jr. with him. 

In making such adjustments, the Falcons added Dean Pees as defensive coordinator and he’ll enter this summer time attempting to determine who the massive canines are in any respect three ranges of his protection. Former first-round decide A.J. Terrell flashed in 2020 but additionally took greater than his justifiable share of rookie lumps, though he presumably has assistance on the way in which within the type of rookie defensive again Richie Grant, amongst others. If the Falcons can get a push up entrance and if their linebacker corps is improved, issues get a lot simpler for Terrell and his defensive again compatriots. They’re going to really need to grind to ensure Pees’ first 12 months is not like the ultimate one among Quinn and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, and competitions are already heating up at each place. 

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