Atlanta Falcons

Pass-rusher Dante Fowler has big plans after signing a three-year, $48 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

"In order to be elite, you have to put up double digits (in sacks) every year," Fowler told reporters during a conference call Thursday. "That's my job. The goal is to beat [Michael] Strahan's record."

Strahan is the NFL's all-time leader in single-season sacks with 22.5 in 2001 with the New York Giants.

Fowler added: "My mentality is to be one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL, one of the best linebackers. Last year was my first year. I’m just scratching the surface, to be honest. I'm coming with a different mentality. I'm out here to prove something, and I know the team is trying to prove something, too."

The 25-year-old signed with the Falcons in free agency last month after a career year with the Los Angeles Rams last season.

Fowler recorded 11.5 sacks, six passes defended, two forced fumbles and 58 tackles (40 solo)—all of which were career-best marks—across 16 regular-season games (14 starts) for the Rams in 2019.

The Jacksonville Jaguars originally selected Fowler with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft. The Florida product played for the Jags until they traded him to L.A. in October 2018. Fowler had 14 sacks through 39 games, which included only one start, in Jacksonville compared to 13.5 sacks as a Ram across 24 games (20 starts).

Fowler's former Rams teammate Aaron Donald, a two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, notched 20.5 sacks in 2018.

Others to come close to Strahan's record within the last decade are former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (22.0 in 2011), Indianapolis Colts linebacker Justin Houston (22.0 in 2014 with Kansas City) and Houston Texans three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt (20.5 in 2012 and 2014).

Tampa Bay's Shaquil Barrett led the league in sacks last season with 19.5. The Falcons were tied for 29th with only 28 sacks.

Landon Collins and Julio Jones never overlapped at Alabama, but suffice it to say, the Washington safety has a healthy respect for his fellow Crimson Tide alum. 

Collins tweeted that Jones is the toughest offensive player he's ever faced while answering fan questions Tuesday:

Nine years into his NFL career, Jones is one of the most productive receivers in league history. He ranks 35th all-time with 797 receptions and 25th in league history with 12,125 receiving yards. In 2019, Jones had his sixth straight season with at least 1,300 yards through the air. Jerry Rice (seven) is the only receiver with more 1,300-yard campaigns.

Collins has only gone head-to-head with Jones twice in his career, and the wideout has topped 100 yards in both contests. 

To put it another way: Collins' pick shouldn't be a controversial one.     

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank was optimistic that the NFL will be "fine" and able to carry out a 16-game 2020 regular-season despite the coronavirus pandemic while speaking with NBC Sports' Peter King for his weekly Football Morning in America column:

"If I had to speculate now, and I use the word speculate because that's really all it is, I would say yes. Only because it's so far away from where we are today. I could easily see camps being shorter, players being tested on a daily basis, things of that nature. No fan attendance. Things like that. We may have fewer preseason games, which probably wouldn't be the end of the world. But I think by September, my hope is by the time the regular season starts, that we'll be able to bring people together in some form or fashion in a safe manner and play."

Blank added that he feels football is needed now because of the overwhelming COVID-19 news cycle.

Commissioner Roger Goodell told teams Thursday that this year's draft will go on as scheduled from April 23 to 25:

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times reported March 21 that the draft would no longer be held in Las Vegas. The league had previously announced that there wouldn't be any surrounding events open to the public.

Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer, as well as the NBA and NHL, suspended their 2019-20 seasons earlier this month. The NFL's offseason has been affected, too:

CNN relayed more than 139,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States with at least 2,425 resulting deaths as of Sunday evening.

The newest running back for the Atlanta Falcons isn't sweating all the drama that surrounded his 2019 season. In fact, Todd Gurley seems ready to move on from it all. 

Speaking to Chris Long on his Green Light podcast, Gurley wasn't going to spend too much time re-litigating how many touches he was given with the Los Angeles Rams last season. 

"I try not to press the issue about nothing, so that's just kind of, just sit back and do my job," Gurley told Long via ESPN's Vaughn McClure. "Like it's not my job to tell who to give me the ball, so if it happens, it happens. I'm not going to b---h about anything. I'm just going to keep quiet and do my part. But when I get the ball, you know I'm going to do good with it for the most part, especially when stuff is going good. But I don't know what happened, man. All I know is I'm with the Falcons now."

Gurley ran the ball 33 fewer times in 2019 than he did in 2018 despite playing one more game. After racking up more than 1,200 yards in back-to-back seasons, the tailback finished with a career-low 857 yards last year, though he made it into the end zone 12 times. 

The Rams released the 25-year-old last week, avoiding having to pay $10.5 million that was guaranteed on his contract. Gurley quipped on Twitter that he got fired on his day off, referencing the film Friday. Still, he told Long the move was a surprise. 

"I didn't see it coming, but obviously I've seen the process over the years, so I understand the business and I understand how it goes," Gurley said. "But I'm also the same type of person like when someone else is getting cut, I'm joking on them. So I can't get mad if somebody jokes on me. I joke on myself all the time. If you knew me, you know that's me. And it's all jokes. It's some truth to every little joke."

The Falcons didn't waste much time hiring the running back. They gave him a one-year, $6 million deal that will allow him to re-establish himself as one of the top tailbacks in the league. 

If he can do that, he'll be in line for a major payday. One of the knocks on Gurley this free agency was that he's still recovering from a knee injury. Proving that he's healthy, let alone that he can play at a high level, will be a major factor in grading his upcoming season. 

Yet that may work out in the Falcons favor. With the NFC South looking like arguably the toughest division in the NFL this season—the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints made major upgrades—having a workhorse like Gurley in the backfield could be a major boon. 

That'll require handing him the ball, something the Rams weren't as keen on doing before moving on from the 2015 10th overall pick.

Reported deals via NFL.com's free-agency tracker.

Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, whose career was derailed by knee injuries, expressed doubt about whether Todd Gurley II can be an All-Pro running back again.

Davis appeared in four games in 1999 before suffering a torn ACL and MCL. The 47-year-old told TMZ Sports he "was never the same" and relayed how his experience could provide insight as to Gurley's future:

"What happens is you feel like your knee—like you have just enough swelling in your knee, just enough, to where it doesn't stop you from running, but you don't have the full flexibility or mobility and you just feel like you're just a second slower.

"When you think about making a cut, it's like the signal from your brain to your knee is like, it just comes just a fraction of a second too slow where your knee doesn't respond to it. And, that's what was happening for me."

Gurley hasn't suffered a significant knee injury yet, but his trainer told CBSSports.com's Dave Richard last June the three-time Pro Bowler has an "arthritic component to his knee."

Davis explained that doctors diagnosed him with an arthritic knee as well. He only played three more years after being named the NFL MVP in 1998.

The Los Angeles Rams released Gurley on March 19, fewer than two full years after signing him to a four-year, $60 million extension.

The move spoke to the obvious long-term concerns the team had about his health and performance. 

Gurley averaged 3.8 yards per carry last season, more than a full yard lower than 2018 (4.9). He was also largely ineffective in the 2019 NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LIII.

Davis said he believes the 25-year-old can remain a productive running back but that his best days are likely behind him.

Gurley will have an opportunity to prove the skeptics wrong with the Atlanta Falcons, who signed him to a one-year, $6 million deal. 

Todd Gurley is coming home to Georgia.

The Georgia Bulldogs product is joining the Atlanta Falcons after spending the first five seasons of his career on the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams. He tweeted "Rise Up I'm Home" with a video of him choosing to attend Georgia for college and running past defenders in a Bulldogs uniform:

Fans in Georgia are accustomed to watching what he can do after he tallied 3,900 yards from scrimmage and 42 touchdowns during his three seasons with the Bulldogs.

Gurley wasted little time making an impact at the NFL level as a three-time Pro Bowler, Offensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year during his time with the Rams and joins a Falcons team loaded with talent that could start 11 first-round draft picks on offense in 2020.

He should see plenty of running lanes with opposing defenses so focused on stopping Julio Jones on the outside, and he now has the motivation of performing in front of many of the same fans who cheered for him in college.

A Super Bowl title for a franchise looking for its first Lombardi Trophy would be quite the homecoming.

The Atlanta Falcons could make history as they look to bounce back from two straight 7-9 campaigns. 

After the Falcons announced they had signed running back Todd Gurley following his release from the Los Angeles Rams, and Zach Klein of WSB in Atlanta reported they will sign wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, the NFC South team could have 11 first-round picks on offense in 2020.

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk noted it would mark the first time in NFL history an offense featured 11 first-round picks on the field at one time and highlighted what the lineup could look like: 

Quarterback: Matt Ryan

Running back: Todd Gurley

Wide receivers: Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Laquon Treadwell

Tight end: Hayden Hurst

Tackles: Jake Matthews, James Carpenter

Guards: Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary

Center: Alex Mack

Atlanta will need all that talent to come together in the daunting NFC South.

Tom Brady joined a Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense featuring arguably the best one-two wide receiver punch in the league with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the New Orleans Saints won 13 games in each of the last two seasons and still have Drew Brees throwing to Michael Thomas, and the Carolina Panthers added Teddy Bridgewater this offseason.

Expectations will still be high for the Falcons, who aren't that far removed from their Super Bowl appearance in the 2016 season.

They still have Matt Ryan and Julio Jones leading the way on offense, just like they did in that Super Bowl campaign. They also have a three-time Pro Bowler in Gurley in the backfield ready to take advantage of the additional running lanes Jones' presence on the outside creates.

If the Falcons miss the playoffs once again, it will be difficult to blame the offensive talent given the roster they have built this offseason.

The Atlanta Falcons continued adding pieces to their offense Sunday, agreeing to terms with offensive lineman Justin McCray on an undisclosed deal, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky.

McCray spent last season with the Cleveland Browns, playing in 15 games while making four starts.

The move should add some decent depth to the Falcons offensive line.

Already this offseason, Atlanta has added defensive tackle Tyeler Davison, edge Dante Fowler Jr., running back Todd Gurley and tight end Hayden Hurst. On Sunday, they added wideout Laquon Treadwell to the mix before grabbing McCray.

It's clear the Falcons have reached the point in the offseason where they're looking more for depth and value adds than starters and playmakers. McCray's signing signals the Falcons are placing a premium on protecting quarterback Matt Ryan as they look to compete in a revamped NFC South.

Now that Tom Brady is moving on to play in Tampa Bay and the Carolina Panthers are hitting reset with new head coach Matt Rhule and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the Falcons will have to dig deep to bounce back from a 7-9 season. That was already going to be a tough task with Drew Brees returning to New Orleans and the Saints adding wideout Emmanuel Sanders and safety Malcolm Jenkins.

According to ESPN's depth chart, McCray figures to slot in on the second string at right tackle behind Kaleb McGary.

The 27-year-old has taken a winding path to reach this point in his career. Undrafted out of UCF in 2014, McCray spent one year on the Tennessee Titans practice squad before catching on with the Orlando Predators in the Arena Football League, later joining the Tampa Bay Storm. In 2017, he found his way back to the NFL with an opportunity in Green Bay before the Packers traded him to Cleveland the following offseason.

Now onto his sixth professional team in seven years, the 6'3", 317-pound tackle is hoping he can provide the security Atlanta is looking for as it looks to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Reported deals via NFL.com's free-agency tracker.

Laquon Treadwell is getting another shot. 

The wide receiver taken 23rd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2016 NFL draft has agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, per ESPN's Josina Anderson.

Treadwell played 13 games last season, recording nine catches for 184 yards and one touchdown. 

Things may not have panned out for the Vikings, but his selection was by no means a gamble. The 6'2", 215 lbs. wideout was stellar in college at Ole Miss. He was named first-team All-SEC in 2015 and was SEC Freshman of the Year two years earlier in 2013. 

For multiple reasons, that didn't transition well to the NFL. In 53 career games, Treadwell has started just 16 over his four-year career, racking up 65 catches, 701 yards and two touchdowns. He didn't reach the end zone in the NFL until his third year as a pro. 

It certainly didn't help that he's gone through multiple quarterbacks since turning pro. In the last four years alone, Minnesota used Sam Bradford, Case Keenum and Kirk Cousins for more than 10 games. That's a lot of change—and a lot of change in styles and cadence—for a young receiver trying to break into the league. As Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen emerged as stars in the Vikes' offense, Treadwell faded. 

He went from playing on 52 percent of Minnesota's offensive snaps in 2018 to just 17 percent last season, according to Pro Football Reference. That pretty much spelled the end of his time with the Vikings. 

Treadwell shouldn't expect to get a bulk of playing time right away in Atlanta, not with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley leading the way, but he can join a sturdy group of receivers and try to carve out a role for himself with a consistent quarterback in Matt Ryan. 

The Falcons will certainly need all the help they can get in a highly-competitive NFC South. With Drew Brees returning to New Orleans and Tom Brady agreeing to terms in Tampa Bay, it may just be the toughest division in football. 

Running back Todd Gurley's comeback tour will begin in earnest when Week 1 rolls around, but buzz is already starting to build that the former Los Angles Ram is ready and able to return to his All-Pro form. 

Analyst Bucky Brooks of NFL.com notes in his latest scouting report he's been told by an AFC running backs coach that the 25-year-old, who recently signed with the Atlanta Falcons, can remain productive under the right circumstances. That's despite rumors of a knee issue still hampering the tailback.

"Gurley still has it," the anonymous coach told Brooks. "[The Rams] didn't use him enough, but his speed, burst and running skills are still there. He just needs to be featured like he was in 2017 and 2018. If he gets the rock, he will put up big numbers."

In 15 games with LA last season, Gurley saw his production drop sharply. He rushed for a career-low 857 yards with 12 touchdowns, while picking up another 207 yards and two scores through the air. He carried the ball 33 times less in 2019 than he did in 2018 and gained 394 fewer yards. In the passing game, he was targeted 28 times less than in 2018 and saw his production halved. 

After being named first-team All-Pro in 2017 and 2018, Gurley finished his last year in Los Angeles with an overall ranking of 67, according Pro Football Focus, and was the 11th-most productive running back in the league. 

The Rams cut him on March 19, saving themselves a $12.449 million cap hit in 2020. Now the Falcons will see if they can get the Georgia alum to run like he did when he was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2017. Atlanta reportedly gave Gurley a one-year, $6 million "prove it" deal, which will go a long way to determining what kind of future he still has in the league. 

A dominant season could force a big payday for the 25-year-old. Anything less may cause him trouble remaining a starter in the NFL. Brooks believes it'll be the former: 

"The Rams' offensive line did not get the job done last season. At the end of the regular season, Pro Football Focus ranked the unit 31st. Tough to run through holes that don't exist.

"It's easy to dismiss a running back when he has reached a certain point of his career, but I wouldn't underestimate Gurley's chances of re-emerging as one of the top playmakers in football, especially given his upgraded supporting cast in Atlanta."

That would be a fantastic development for the Falcons. With Drew Brees returning to the New Orleans Saints and Tom Brady joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFC South is now, arguably, the toughest division in football.

Having an MVP-caliber running back could make all the difference as Atlanta looks to come out on top.