Atlanta Falcons

Former Austin Peay defensive back Juantarius Bryant said he was the victim of a hoax centered around a fake tryout with the Atlanta Falcons.

Bryant explained Saturday someone had reached out to him while pretending to be Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees. He drove to Atlanta's team facility for rookie minicamp, only to discover the team hadn't invited him. He called it "one of the most embarrassing things that has ever happened to me."

It’s been a rough few days, but I felt the need to clear the air and get this off my chest. Honestly ready to move on from the situation. pic.twitter.com/yUJELOstZW

— Juantarius Bryant (@TheyLoveMyHair_) May 15, 2021

"I am ready to move on from the situation and respectfully I do not feel like talking about it over and over again," he said. "Yes, whoever did this to me is very wrong, but I'm moving on from the situation and I forgive them for whatever reason they chose to do it."

Bryant had previously told Alexander Allard of The All State, Austin Peay's student newspaper, about receiving a text purportedly from Pees.

"When he told me they have a spot for me at the rookie minicamp, my heart just started racing," he said. "It made me start thinking 'hard work really does pay off.' I had sacrificed so many things just to get an opportunity that a lot of other people would have folded had they been in my position."

The Nashville, Tennessee, native went undrafted in 2020.

Bryant was a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference defender as a senior in 2019. He finished the year with 107 total tackles and four pass breakups and helped the Governors claim a share of their first OVC title since 1977.

Despite a 4-12 record last season, the Atlanta Falcons enter 2021 with optimism thanks to the arrival of new head coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot. 

Smith spent the past two years as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator. He helped to turn around Ryan Tannehill's career and designed the scheme in which Derrick Henry led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in each of the previous two seasons, including a 2,000-yard campaign in 2020. 

There's plenty of talent on the Falcons offense for the coach to work with. Matt Ryan is still a solid quarterback heading into his age-36 season, and Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley are among the best wide receiver duos in the NFL.  

The Falcons added tight end Kyle Pitts to that pass-catching group with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 draft. This offense has the pieces in place to be as strong as it was in 2016 under then-offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. 

The first test for Smith will be trying to stabilize an Atlanta franchise that has been trending downward since making back-to-back playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017. The team has had losing records in each of the past three years. 

With the NFL unveiling the 2021 regular-season schedule, here is the gauntlet the Falcons will be going up against. 

         

2021 Atlanta Falcons Schedule       

On a journey to find dubs.

Our 2021 schedule is here - https://t.co/UGNpFdNYvM pic.twitter.com/pgZGGyD5wk

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 12, 2021

Our full 2021 schedule 😍

DETAILS - https://t.co/UGNpFdNYvM pic.twitter.com/Wc45X7REjF

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 13, 2021

Full television schedule can be found on the team's official website.

               

Analysis

Based on opponents' 2020 winning percentage, the Falcons have the third-easiest schedule in the NFL, per Chet Gresham of DraftKings. The biggest reason for that is because they are matched up with the NFC East and AFC East in 2021. 

Those two divisions combined to have just two teams finish with a winning record last season: the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. That seems unlikely to be the case in 2021, especially if Dak Prescott stays healthy for the Dallas Cowboys and after the moves the New England Patriots made to upgrade their roster in free agency and drafting Mac Jones in the first round. 

While the teams outside of the division could end up better than they were last season, there are two significant question marks in the NFC South. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the class of the division on paper after re-signing all of their key free agents from last year's Super Bowl squad. 

But the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers have uncertain quarterback situations. The Saints, who have won the division in each of the past four seasons, don't have Drew Brees for the first time since 2005. Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston are unproven as starters in the NFL. 

Albert Breer of The MMQB reported in February that Panthers owner David Tepper is "obsessed" with finding a franchise quarterback. The team appears set on going with Sam Darnold this season after acquiring him in a trade with the New York Jets. 

If the division isn't as strong as it was at the top last season, there could be a few more wins for the Falcons to make a move with an expanded playoff field. 

        

Pivotal Matchups

One reason the Falcons struggled in 2020 was their inability to beat good teams. They lost eight of nine games against opponents that finished .500 or better. Their lone win was over the 8-8 Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12. 

Of course, Atlanta has several opponents in 2021 that finished under .500 last year but should be improved this season.

The San Francisco 49ers were ravaged by injuries and erratic quarterback play, but they have a strong roster when healthy. The New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars have new coaching regimes as well as Zach Wilson and Trevor Lawrence, respectively, at quarterback. Each should make their team better, if for no other reason than those franchises have nowhere to go but up. 

If the Falcons want to challenge for a playoff spot in the loaded NFC, they have to show they can compete against quality opponents. That group includes the Bucs, Saints, 49ers, Dolphins, Bills and Washington Football Team. They also have to start winning games in their own division. 

Atlanta dropped five of six games against NFC South opponents in 2020. Those games could be the difference between a potential wild-card berth and missing the playoffs for a fourth straight season. 

Julio Jones might have played his last game with the Atlanta Falcons.

"I'd call it 60-40 that Julio Jones is traded by Labor Day," Peter King of NBC Sports said Monday.

A trade likely couldn't happen until after June 1 because of cap reasons, but the Falcons were taking calls about possible trades involving the star receiver before the NFL draft, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Jones has a $23.05 million cap hit for 2021, but the team can save $15.3 million against next year's cap by trading him after June 1, per Spotrac.

King previously reported that the Falcons could put together the framework of a trade before officially making the move June 2. He named the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens as possible landing spots.

Atlanta spent its No. 4 overall draft pick on tight end Kyle Pitts, who could help replace Jones' size and agility in the passing attack. The squad already has Calvin Ridley, who is coming off a breakout 2020 season with 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. Russell Gage has also proved he can handle a bigger role.

The Falcons had the No. 5 passing attack in the NFL last year even with Jones limited to just nine games, which means the unit can stay successful without him if needed.

After three straight losing seasons, it will also help to move forward with young talent while getting more assets that can help the rebuild.

With that said, Jones can still help another team on the field. The 32-year-old has been selected to seven Pro Bowls, including six straight before last year. He has averaged 95.5 receiving yards per game in his career, the most in NFL history, while his 85.7 per game in 2020 was still seventh in the league even in a down year riddled by injuries.

His resume and skill set should mean there are plenty of interested teams as long as they have enough room under the salary cap.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan reportedly believes he has "several good years" of football remaining in his career.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday on SportsCenter that the Falcons could be comfortable with Ryan as their franchise quarterback beyond this season, saying:

"[Matt Ryan] has told multiple people close to him, in and around the Falcons, that he feels he has several good years left, that he can still play at a high level. So, the Falcons did extensive homework on Trey Lance and the other quarterbacks that they considered with the fourth overall pick. But they believe, and they're totally comfortable rolling with Matt Ryan for this year, possibly longer. They feel they have weapons, Kyle Pitts now, a quarterback-friendly system with new coach Arthur Smith and it should be an improved defense. So, this is a team they feel they'll be on the rise and Ryan will be better-positioned to have more success."

Ryan has been the Falcons' starting quarterback since they selected him with the No. 3 pick in the 2008 NFL draft. He's been named to four Pro Bowls and won the 2016 NFL MVP, but the Falcons haven't recorded a winning season since 2017. 

Atlanta went 4-12 in 2020 and was in position to draft a franchise quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick but instead selected Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. The team also chose to keep veteran wideout Julio Jones despite trade rumors, signaling plans to move forward with the current core—at least for the 2021 season.

The cap ramifications of moving on from Jones and Ryan become far less problematic next offseason. Atlanta would save $8.1 million from its cap by trading Ryan and $3.8 million by moving Jones in 2022.

It seems likely the Falcons would shift to a larger-scale rebuild next offseason if the team fails to make a significant improvement under first-year coach Arthur Smith. 

The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday that they have exercised the $11.1 million option in Calvin Ridley's contract for the 2022 season. 

Ridley's option being picked up was seemingly little more than a matter of procedure after he emerged as a second-team All-Pro selection in 2020. The Alabama product recorded 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns while largely taking over for an injured Julio Jones as the Falcons' top wideout.

It's likely picking up Ridley's fifth-year option is only a precursor to a long-term contract extension. The 26-year-old tweeted in January that he is ready to ink a long-term deal, which will almost certainly be at least double his $11.1 million fifth-year option on a per-year basis.

Jones will almost certainly return for 2021, but the 32-year-old's long-term future with the franchise is in question. The Falcons faced questions about whether they would trade their all-time leading receiver, and general manager Terry Fontenot acknowledged that no player is untouchable:

"We hold that player in high regard. Pointing to the cap, pointing to the fact that we will answer calls on any players. When teams ask about players, we have to answer those calls. We have to listen because we knew when we stepped into this, we were going to have to make some tough decisions because it's just the reality of it, that's where we are with the salary cap. So we have to make some difficult decisions, so we have to look at all of the different options and all of the different scenarios so if someone calls about any player, we have to discuss it and do what's right for the team."

The Falcons ultimately chose to keep Jones through the 2021 draft, but the writing is on the wall. Ridley is the future and potentially present WR1 in Atlanta.

HEIGHT: 5'11"

WEIGHT: 204 lbs

     

POSITIVES

—Above-average bulk for the WR position. 

—Above-average route-runner with flashes of twitchy breaks. Maintains friendliness to the QB on in-breakers. Flashes some varied releases versus press and winning with strength, balance and footwork.

—Shows good play strength throughout his game. Will attempt to bury defenders when he has the ball in his hands. 

—Plays with a competitive streak. Gets after DBs in the run game and takes every rep seriously. Attacks the ball in the air and fights to win every 50-50 ball. Into the game and you can see him lining up his teammates. 

—Offense didn't throw much and wasn't conducive to WR stats. Majored in their receiving game production.

       

NEGATIVES

—Was not asked to run a large assortment of routes and still needs to add nuance.

—Not an overly dominant athlete and doesn't consistently create yards after the catch. 

—Average height and length.

—Older prospect who will turn 25 as a rookie.

    

2020 STATISTICS

7 G, 37 rec., 584 yards, 15.8 avg., 2 TD

        

OVERALL 

While Antonio Nunn didn't put up eye-popping numbers at first glance, watching Buffalo's run-first offense shows a player who maximized the limited opportunities that were given to him. Nunn brings toughness and competitiveness with his game. He loves to block and likes to find little games he can play against whichever CB is guarding him, feigning releases before popping the backpedaling CB in the chest.

His competitiveness shows up with the way he encourages teammates, and he shows a high football IQ with his situational awareness. He already flashes different ways to win at the line of scrimmage vs. press, varying up his tempo and using his good balance and play strength to consistently win.

Nunn is an above-average route-runner who will need to keep working on the details and adding to his route tree, but his competitive nature hints at a work ethic that might allow for growth. Nunn's strength also shows up with how he attacks 50-50 throws, attempting to snatch throws and showing natural hands.

Overall, Nunn's size, athleticism and toughness will make him a candidate to be a special teams favorite early on, but Nunn has more than enough athletic traits and skills to be a contributing inside and out backup with a small chance for more.

      

GRADE: 6.9/10 (Round 5)

OVERALL RANK: 173/300

POSITION RANK: WR29

PRO COMPARISON: Parris Campbell

      

Written by B/R NFL Scout Nate Tice

HEIGHT: 6'6 5/8"

WEIGHT: 234 lbs

     

POSITIVES

—Excellent size and long arms at the QB position.

—Good athlete, especially for his size. Not a stiff and is a fluid mover. 

—Tough in the pocket and willing to stand in and deliver a throw.

—Can deliver the ultimate "wow" throws. Athletic enough to do this off-platform.

—Excellent arm strength. Throws a pretty deep ball and can also throw the ball through a wall.

        

NEGATIVES

—Struggles to consistently progress and makes a lot of head-scratching decisions with the ball.

—Long arms lead to a long delivery that NFL CBs will jump.

—Will end up late on throws due to inconsistent anticipation and dropback timing. Tries to overcompensate by throwing inaccurate fastballs.

—Below-average accuracy. Can spray his throws due to sporadic footwork.

       

2020 STATISTICS

9 G, 163-of-238 (68.5%), 2,107 YDS, 17 TD, 4 INT, 1 RUSHING TD

      

NOTES

—Started 24 games at Florida before transferring to Arkansas in 2020.

        

OVERALL 

Feleipe Franks is a big-armed QB in the classic prototypical mold, but he has enough athleticism not to be a total statue in the pocket. Franks will make maddening decisions with the football. He consistently predetermines his throw and frequently will try to force balls no matter where defenders are. His excellent arm strength helps mask his longer delivery, but his inconsistent timing and footwork negate the advantage his arm gives him.

Franks has traits that will make him intriguing in the NFL, but he still has a long way to go with his eyes, anticipation, and overall polish and consistency. He is a developmental backup QB that would probably be best served on a practice squad to begin his career as he tries to hone his natural gifts to something usable. 

       

GRADE: 6.4/10

OVERALL RANK: 257/300 (Round 7)

POSITION RANK: QB13

PRO COMPARISON: Cardale Jones

     

Written by B/R NFL Scout Nate Tice

HEIGHT: 6'0 1/2"

WEIGHT: 239 lbs

      

POSITIVES

—Three-year starter in the SEC who ended his collegiate career as a team captain.

—Big linebacker who can fit the run downhill very well in a "thumper" role.

—Very violent, aggressive player when bullets are coming at him.

     

NEGATIVES

—Does not see the game well yet.

—Foot speed and change of direction are limiting factors.

—Coverage downs will test him at the next level.

        

2020 STATISTICS

95 TKL, 4 TFL, 3 SK, 1 INT, 1 PBU

      

NOTES

—Turned down an in-state scholarship to Alabama as a prep.

—Started 40 games at Mississippi State.

—Was a three-year full-time starter for the Bulldogs.

—2020 team captain.

      

OVERALL

When you think of a "thumper," you think of a player in the mold of Erroll Thompson. Likely a 3-4 inside linebacker or a "Mike" linebacker in the NFL, Thompson will play the inside and off-tackle run very well when given the opportunity, but his sideline-to-sideline ability and coverage skills will limit if he can or can't see the field for a team.

He is strong and confident, but he must develop better eyes to last in the league with his physical limitations.

       

GRADE: 6.3/10 (Round 7)

OVERALL RANK: 272/300

POSITION RANK: LB25

PRO COMPARISON: Tyler Matakevich

        

Written by B/R NFL Scout Justis Mosqueda

HEIGHT: 5'8 1/8"

WEIGHT: 183

POSITIVES

—Shows good vision and tempo on outside zone runs. Consistently lets his blockers climb to the second level and will press the hole before cutting north. 

—Above-average overall athlete who plays with above-average foot quickness and good body control. Shows good footwork when he navigates his way around blockers and defenders without wasted motion or loss of acceleration. Above-average long speed and flashes the ability to pull away from defenders, but not a true burner.

—Consistently tough and competitive player. Classic Scrappy-Doo style player being undersized and not backing down. Willing to run in-between the tackles on run concepts like Duo.

—Shows very good eyes on pass protection assignments. Is able to meet blitzers in the hole before they gather a ton of steam.

—Plays with above-average with flashes of good contact balance. Able to keep his feet despite early contact.

NEGATIVES

—Poor size for the RB position that will limit the amount of touches in the NFL. Thin framed that is maxed out already.

—Will cut defenders on pass protection due to his size. Hard to consistently do that at NFL level.

—Plays with some linear stiffness. Straight-line type of player that’s not overly shifty making defenders miss in tight spaces.

—Louisville did split him out at times, but as a body as opposed to highlight him. Will need to work on route running tree.

 

2020 STATISTICS

8 G, 133 carries, 822 yards, 6.2 avg., 7 TD, 16 rec., 127 yards, 1 TD

      

OVERALL 

Javian Hawkins is an undersized RB who brings a polished skill set to the position that makes him a fun prospect to watch. The obvious thing to talk about with Hawkins is his sub–190-pound playing weight and that will be the biggest question mark with him throughout his career, not just for durability reasons but for consistent play strength. He plays tough and physical, willing to run in-between the tackles and fitting up defenders in protection while also showing adequate vision and tempo on his runs, especially outside zone concepts.

Hawkins is not overly twitchy and more of a smooth athlete with OK acceleration. He prefers to weave in-and-out of his blockers when working to the second level, but does display tight footwork and no loss of momentum when doing so. Hawkins shows good eyes when protecting the QB and is willing to meet defenders in the hole to block them, showing good hand technique when doing so, but sometimes lacking the size and strength to hold up (he will cut defenders which is a no-no at the NFL level.)

Overall, Hawkins is a tough, team-first type of guy who does a lot of things in the run game well, but his lack of size, route running chops and overwhelming speed will limit his team fit and true 3-down potential. If he can produce as a returner or as a special teams demon then his value will grow, but ideally he’d be on an outside zone-heavy team with another RB or two to share carries and protection responsibilities with. 

GRADE: 6.8/10 (5th-6th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 191/300

POSITION RANK: RB13

PRO COMPARISON: Donnel Pumphrey

Written by B/R NFL Scout Nate Tice

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 201

POSITIVES

— Very good ball-tracker on deep throws. 

— Above-average overall hands. Can consistently adjust his hands depending on the ball path.

— Good on vertical routes, which is where he gets his production. Had good body control and adequate play strength to fight through contact and continue the path on his routes, which makes him consistently dangerous when paired with his tracking ability.

— Above-average athlete with good long speed and acceleration. Style of play is more smooth than explosive; plays faster than his testing indicates.

— Competitive. Will go up and attack 50-50 balls. Brings energy with his play.

— Has enough size and release refinement to stay on the outside in the NFL.

       

NEGATIVES

— Inconsistent route-runner. Needs to continue to refine to details on his route running; will get caught at the top of his routes and be loose on his path after breaking. Best on deep routes right now.

— Not laterally twitchy and won't make many defenders miss in space. Primarily a one-trick pony with vertical routes.

 

2020 STATISTICS

4 G, 6 rec., 46 yards, 7.7 avg., 1 TD

      

OVERALL

Frank Darby is a very good deep-ball tracker who can bring verticality to any offense. Darby is an adequate athlete and a bit of a one-trick pony, as he lacks polish and consistency with his short and intermediate route running and will need to keep improving to be able to contribute as an every-down player.

But his ability to win on deep routes (his play speed is markedly better than his timed speed) combined with his hands, body control and ball-tracking ability help him consistently take the top off the defense. Darby also plays with a competitive edge and has the size to project well on special teams.

Overall, Darby's toughness and ability to consistently come down with deep throws will help him stick in the NFL as a backup role player.

GRADE: 7.0/10 (Round 4-5)

OVERALL RANK: 161/300

POSITION RANK: WR26

PRO COMPARISON: Christian Kirk

Written by B/R NFL Scout Nate Tice