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Atlanta Hawks HC Raheem Morris John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

2024 offseason primer: Falcons ready to reload with new HC Raheem Morris

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/14/24

Although the Atlanta Falcons (7-10 in 2023) suffered their sixth straight losing season, with six one-score losses they were a few breaks away from being a playoff team.

Arthur Smith was fired after three consecutive 7-10 seasons and while owner Arthur Blank flirted with bringing in Bill Belichick, Los Angeles Rams DC Raheem Morris was ultimately hired to snap Atlanta’s six-year playoff drought.

It’s likely the team will move on from quarterback Desmond Ridder or at the very least keep him around to have a backup with starting experience while they draft or trade for another signal caller to replace him. Atlanta has plenty of young play-makers to build around – running back Bijan Robinson, receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts – with an improved defense that is a few pieces away from making the jump into the league’s elite. The Falcons ranked 11th in total defense in 2023.

The Falcons are a team to watch in the 2024 NFL Draft as they've been linked to Chicago's Justin Fields. They have also been floated as a trade-up option in the first round in April.

There are people around the NFL who believe that the Patriots are open to trading the 3rd overall pick, moving back in the draft, and addressing the quarterback situation in free agency, per @DanGrazianoESPN

Teams expected to want to move up in the draft are the Falcons (8th…
— Justin Ramos (@NEPinsider) February 10, 2024

Here’s what you need to know about Atlanta’s offseason:

PROJECTED 2024 CAP SPACE: $29.8M (16th-most in NFL)

FREE AGENTS | Offense: QBs Logan Woodside, Feleipe Franks; RB Cordarrelle Patterson; FB Keith Smith; OT Ethan Greenidge; WRs Mack Hollins, Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, Khadarel Hodge; TE MyCole Pruitt; Centers Matt Hennessy, Ryan Neuzil; Long snapper Liam McCullough

Defense: DT Albert Huggins; DEs Calais Campbell, Kentavius Street, Joe Gaziano; LBs Nathan Landman, Bud Dupree; CBs Jeff Okudah, Tre Flowers

Outlook: The Falcons are in the middle of the pack in terms of cap space, so they’ll have to be economical with their free-agent spending. An upgrade at QB is needed, but that will likely come through the draft or via trade. Hollins was a disappointment and contributed very little in 2023, but Jefferson is an intriguing option as a No. 3 WR to be retained.

Atlanta can afford to let most of its own free agents hit the open market, but Campbell, who led the team with 6.5 sacks, Okudah, who allowed a 61.5 completion percentage and zero touchdowns in coverage, should be two of the team’s top priorities.

Six NFL teams have at least four top-100 draft picks this year (not including any compensatory selections):

Cardinals (4, 27, 35, 66, 71, 91)
Packers (25, 41, 58, 89, 92)
Falcons (8, 43, 74, 79)
Lions (29, 62, 73, 94)
Giants (6, 39, 47, 70)
Commanders (2, 36, 40, 67)
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) February 14, 2024

TOP DRAFT NEEDS (in order): QB, Edge-rusher, S, WR, DT — If Atlanta doesn’t make a push for Fields, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Oregon’s Bo Nix could all be options at No. 8 overall. The Falcons could also trade back, pick up more draft capital and pick one of those three QBs in the mid-to-late first round.

If the Falcons don’t deem any of the remaining passers worthy of the No. 8 pick, the best available edge-rusher (Alabama’s Dallas Turner, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu) or receiver (Washington’s Rome Odunze, Florida State’s Keon Coleman) could be the route they take.

DRAFT PROSPECTS TO WATCH: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington, J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan; Bo Nix, QB, Oregon; Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State, Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA, Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama; Rome Odunze, WR, Washington; Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State; Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU; Jer’Zahn Newton, DT, Illinois, T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas; Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan; Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota; Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami

THREE 2024 STORYLINES TO WATCH:

Who is Atlanta’s starting QB in 2024?

Will Morris pull an anti-Smith and actually turn Robinson loose?

How does Zac Robinson handle his first year as an offensive coordinator?

More must-reads: