NFL Analyst Reveals Biggest Hole in Atlanta Falcons Roster After NFL Draft

ESPN NFL analytics analyst Aaron Schatz provided insight into the biggest hole in every NFL team’s roster following the NFL Draft. For the Atlanta Falcons, Schatz qualified for a position in the defensive secondary, but perhaps not the one you might imagine.

Jessie Bates III is a star free safety, but the Falcons’ strong safety position is a mess. Richie Grant has regressed considerably during his three seasons in the NFL, notably giving up many big plays to opposing tight ends. (Atlanta ranked 31st in tight end coverage DVOA last season.) The alternative to Grant is 2023 seventh-rounder DeMarcco Hellams. He’s physical but lacks speed, so he can also be a problem when it’s about covering tight ends. Micah Abernathy is primarily a special teams shooter. Lukas Denis spent all of last year on Atlanta’s practice squad.

Atlanta did not add another safety to the roster through the draft or free agency, signaling a confidence in Richie Grant that is not necessarily justified. Since being drafted, Grant has dropped a passer rating of 131.7, 85.1 and 131.4 each year.

The discussion has focused more on the Falcons’ cornerback room, but with a two-height system in place, Bates will need a reliable running mate at fullback. So far, it doesn’t look like Grant could be that and, as Schatz pointed out, there doesn’t appear to be another ready-made solution on the roster. On top of that, the Falcons are up against the cap, having only $5.7 million to spend, making the list of options available outside the building quite thin.

One option that could work is former Los Angeles Rams safety John Johnson, who posted a 48.2 passer rating allowed last season.