6 Players to Watch During Atlanta Falcons Training Camp

July 24 marks the first day of the 2024 Atlanta Falcons training camp. We will finally see this highly anticipated team take the field and fight for their 53 roster spots.

Training camp always goes by very quickly. Before we know it, the preseason will begin and the regular season will follow. However, let’s focus on the last part of training before the official games.

The Falcons have a lot of players to watch. They added a lot of talent throughout the offseason, both in free agency and in the draft. Let’s take a look at six specific players to watch when the Dirty Birds take the practice field.

1. Kirk Cousins, QB

If you didn’t know how important a quarterback is to a football team, last year showed you. You might be able to win a game here and there (like the 2023 Falcons), but consistency will elude you.

The big acquisition of the offseason was Kirk Cousins. He is supposed to be the steady force of the offense. However, with this being his first season in ATL and with a new offense, watch how well he aligns with his point guard and weapons. Cousins’ command over the players around him will tell us a lot.

2. Rondale Moore, receiver

I’ve talked about this before, but it’ll be interesting to see how Rondale Moore is used. We all know his talent; he’s one of the fastest players in the league, but Arizona has never found a way to utilize that talent. Zac Robinson is now responsible for moving Moore around the offense to help him get into open spaces.

3. Matthew Bergeron, LG

There’s no doubt about the five players who will start on the Falcons’ offensive line and one of them is Matt Bergeron. The second-year player has been his team’s offensive leader while also being the weakest link on the line, which is excusable for a rookie.

His improvement in Year 2 could be the difference between a top-10 or top-3 pick. He needs to improve in both pass blocking and run blocking, but there’s no reason to think he won’t make big strides in Year 2.

4. Brandon Dorlus, DL

Brandon Dorlus is almost the Rondale Moore of defense. The Oregon recruit spent his college career playing up and down the line. He’s a tweener who can be used in a lot of different ways. It will be interesting to see how Raheem Morris and Jimmy Lake use him from game to game.

5. Troy Andersen, LB

Troy Andersen’s career hasn’t gone the way he wanted due to injuries. Last year, he only played a few games before getting injured, which ended his season. In his absence, Nate Landman has emerged as one of the best linebackers in the NFL.

Now that Andersen is healthy, how will he fit into the depth chart? Will he be a starter and back up Nate Landman? Will Kaden Elliss be used more as a pass rusher with Troy back? There are so many possibilities and the second-round pick is key.

6. Clark Phillips III, CB

There’s one matchup I want to see in training camp: Drake London vs. Clark Phillips III. While it may be cruel to want to see a six-foot-nine cornerback try to cover a six-foot-four receiver, it will tell us a lot about Phillips’ future.

I also wouldn’t underestimate the little cornerback who has earned his fair share of reps. He’s as competitive as anyone and watching him sharpen his skills against one of the most physical and feisty receivers will be a lot of fun.