The Atlanta Falcons have been preparing for a 2024 season in which they aim to soar atop the NFC South standings.
The Falcons have been on the outside looking in for almost a decade now, with their last division win coming in the 2016 season and last playoff appearance in 2017. They suffered one of the most infamous collapses in sports history, blowing a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
This led to a new era for Atlanta football with franchise quarterback Matt Ryan being traded to the Indianapolis Colts for the 82nd-overall pick in the third-round of the 2022 draft. Ryan had been with the Falcons for his entire career after being drafted with the third-overall pick in 2008.
Since the trade, the Falcons have worked to build a successful offensive skill group through the draft as they searched for their next face of the franchise at the quarterback position. In three consecutive drafts, the Falcons drafted tight end Kyle Pitts with the fourth overall pick in 2021, wide receiver Drake London with the eight overall pick in 2022 and running back Bijan Robinson with the eight overall pick in 2023.
The 2024 free agency period saw the Falcons make their big move to fill the quarterback position, in which they signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal worth up to $180 million in March.
A month later, the Falcons drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eight overall pick in the draft. While the move was met with mixed reactions by the media and fans alike, the Falcons now have an insurance plan in their quarterback room, as Cousins is coming off a season in which he suffered a torn Achilles.
The Falcons front office weren’t done making moves though, as they worked to solidify their defense. In a pair of moves, they traded a third-round pick in the 2025 draft for New England Patriots’ linebacker Matthew Judon and signed free agent safety Justin Simmons to a 1-year, $8 million deal.
These moves bring in valuable veteran experience as they pair Simmons with stand-out free agent signing from last offseason, Jessie Bates. Judon, an experience pass rusher helps to fill one of the roster’s glaring needs. Falcons fans will also be pleased to hear that they stopped Simmons from signing with their division rivals, the New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons find themselves as the betting odds favorite to win the division this season in a scenario that would symbolize a big shake up in the NFC South. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the division the last three seasons, a period of time which saw the Falcons end the season with a 7-10 record each year.
New coaching hire Raheem Morris will be at the helm for this new season after Arthur Smith’s departure to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Morris brings championship pedigree to the Falcons, having been the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams for the last three seasons, which includes the Rams’ 2022 Super Bowl winning team.
With big additions on the roster and coaching staff alike, the 2024 season will be one of high expectations for the Falcons as they try to bring playoff football back to Atlanta for the first time in seven seasons.
