The Atlanta Falcons open the 2022 NFL regular season against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 11 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta's roster is going to look different heading into training camp. How much remains to be seen. The Falcons used the offseason time as a way to have an extended tryout for some players -- hence bigger numbers at receiver and tight end -- while also experimenting with different things. But like most NFL teams, a lot of the roster is largely set already due to contracts and talent.
The big question is linebacker Deion Jones, the last big unsettled contract from the former regime of coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Jones has a cap hit over $20 million for 2022 and has $13.64 million in guaranteed money. Plus, he missed the entire offseason program coming off a shoulder injury.
If the Falcons could trade Jones, they probably would, but with almost $19 million in dead cap if the team releases him (and Atlanta already has more than $63 million in dead cap space), it would seem unlikely they'd just cut him. Is it possible? Sure, and it will be something to watch all August.
Here's a 53-man roster projection heading into the summer break:
QUARTERBACK (3): Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, Feleipe Franks
Mariota and Ridder are roster locks. The question is how much of a battle there is for the starting job throughout training camp. Franks is listed at quarterback here, but he's also being used heavily on special teams and as a tight end. The Falcons like the concept of what Franks is trying to do, and coach Arthur Smith, in his creativity, will find a way to use him.
RUNNING BACK (4): Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier, Qadree Ollison, Avery Williams
Patterson and Allgeier are expected to be the top two backs. If Williams wins either the kick or punt return job his roster spot is secure; if not, then he could be in real trouble. The battle between Ollison, Damien Williams, Avery Williams and Caleb Huntley for potentially two roster spots will be fascinating to watch.
FULLBACK (1): Keith Smith
If the team keeps a fullback, it will be Smith, who also has a high level of special teams value. In Smith's offense, a fullback has value too.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Drake London, Bryan Edwards, Olamide Zaccheaus, Damiere Byrd, Auden Tate
Beyond London, Edwards and Zaccheaus, no one else is a roster lock. We didn't see much of Tate in OTAs because of injury, but his experience and size make him a smart play on the outside. Byrd has good speed in the slot. But this is wide open and could easily see Geronimo Allison, KhaDarel Hodge or one of the undrafted free agents win a job. Frank Darby, last year's sixth-round pick, is a big question here.
TIGHT END (4): Kyle Pitts, Anthony Firkser, John Raine, John FitzPatrick
Pitts is the team's best offensive player, and Firkser seems like he's settling into the No. 2 role. FitzPatrick, as a sixth-round draft pick and with a 6-foot-7 frame as a blocking tight end, should have a spot. Raine has hybrid capability as a potential fullback, too, which might put Keith Smith's job in jeopardy, but don't count out Parker Hesse or Brayden Lenius here either.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Jake Matthews, Jalen Mayfield, Matt Hennessy, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary, Drew Dalman, Elijah Wilkinson, Germain Ifedi, Justin Shaffer
As far as being on the roster, the first six guys feel fairly set, although who ends up starting at center between Hennessy and Dalman is an unknown. Ifedi and Wilkinson were free-agent signings who have positional flexibility, and Shaffer was a sixth-round pick at guard, but it's possible a veteran gets signed here or a young player -- watch tackle Rick Leonard or undrafted free agents Leroy Watson and Tyler Vrabel -- makes a push.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5): Grady Jarrett, Ta'Quon Graham, Marlon Davidson, Anthony Rush, Vincent Taylor
Jarrett, Graham and Rush feel pretty locked in at this point, and Davidson probably is too. Taylor hasn't practiced yet, but the veteran is the type of depth player Atlanta should look at. Veteran Nick Thurman and undrafted rookies Timmy Horne, Bryce Rodgers and Derrick Tangelo could make things interesting.
EDGE RUSHER (4): Lorenzo Carter, Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Arnold Ebiketie, DeAngelo Malone
This feels pretty set and is likely the rotation order to start the season too. If Quinton Bell or Jordan Brailford shines in camp, the Falcons could go five deep here.
LINEBACKER (5): Rashaan Evans, Mykal Walker, Nick Kwiatkoski, Troy Andersen, Deion Jones
The biggest question with the Falcons now is Jones. If he's on the roster at the end of camp, he should be on the team. But anything is possible, from a trade to a release, although cutting him seems unlikely at this point. The other four feel fairly set at this time, but keep an eye on undrafted free agent Nate Landman as a sleeper.
CORNERBACK (6): A.J. Terrell, Casey Hayward Jr., Isaiah Oliver, Darren Hall, Mike Ford, Dee Alford
A deep position for Atlanta at the moment, the top four are probably set with Terrell, Hayward, Oliver (when he comes back from injury) and Hall. Ford has positional flexibility, both at corner (inside and outside) and as a safety. Alford, a former CFL All-Star, has potential, too, but a lot can happen here.
SAFETY (4): Jaylinn Hawkins, Richie Grant, Dean Marlowe, Erik Harris
Barring injury, this should be Atlanta's safety group. If undrafted rookie Brad Hawkins plays well in camp, he might force a decision to be made, but he has a tough climb to beat out any of these four.
SPECIALISTS (3): Younghoe Koo (kicker), Seth Vernon (punter), Liam McCullough (long-snapper)
Koo and McCullough have no competition on the roster at this point, and Koo is a lock. Vernon is in a battle with Dom Maggio, and this competition has yet to really begin, but Vernon, the undrafted rookie from Portland State, is intriguing.