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Falcons training camp: Previewing each offensive position group
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- Falcons training camp: Previewing each offensive position group
With NFL training camps set to open later this month, the Atlanta Falcons are hoping they did enough to finally end their seven-year postseason drought. The team brought in numerous reinforcements, most of which were on the defensive side of the ball.
Offensively, the Falcons will return 10 of 11 starters from last year's roster. The only change was at the center position, with veteran backup Ryan Neuzil taking over for Drew Dalman . At quarterback, Michael Penix Jr . has replaced veteran Kirk Cousins , who is still on the roster.
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Players officially report for training camp on July 23. Check out our pre-training camp preview of each offensive position group below.
Falcons Quarterback Breakdown
Penix enters the season as the unquestioned starter, but Cousins' presence still feels slightly odd. At this point, we have to believe the Falcons aren't bluffing about keeping the high-priced veteran QB. Assuming he's still on the roster, Cousins will serve as a quality backup. Easton Stick , who has 1,133 passing yards, three touchdowns and one career interception, should be the third-string QB this season.
QB Depth Chart (4):
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Easton Stick
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2025 salary cap hits for Falcons QBs:
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Cousins:$40,000,000
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Penix:$5,200,599
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Stick:$1,197,500
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Jones:$840,000
When your backup quarterback makes seven times more than your starter, it's usually a sign that somebody messed up. Cousins would likely prefer to play elsewhere, but the Falcons have no incentive to do him any favors. Unless the team can get another team to pay a chunk of Cousins' salary, it's hard to imagine him playing elsewhere in 2025. Atlanta could get out of his contract next season for considerably less.
Top free agent QBs available:
The Falcons have no real reason to add another veteran quarterback. The only scenario I could see them signing another QB would be if they release or trade Cousins and want to add a more established backup behind Penix. Wentz and Huntley could be options in this scenario.
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Predictions/expectations for QBs in 2025:
Penix showed enough upside in his three starts last season that we don't anticipate any QB controversies in 2025. The former No. 8 pick in the draft has all the tools to be a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback. With a talented surrounding cast and a rifle for an arm, Penix has a real chance to lead the team to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
Falcons Running Back Breakdown
Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier are locks to make the roster, but the other spots are up for grabs. The team released 2024 sixth-round pick Jase McClellan and signed UFL standout Jashaun Corbin . Dotson and Carter will have to ball out during training camp to play themselves onto the roster. This is arguably one of the most talented running back groups in the entire league.
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RB Depth Chart (6):
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Bijan Robinson
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Tyler Allgeier
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Jashaun Corbin
2025 salary cap hits for Falcons RBs:
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Robinson:$5,988,694
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Allgeier:$1,183,472
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McClellan:$1,008,592
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Washington:$960,000
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Dotson:$960,000
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Carter:$845,000
For the amount of talent in the backfield, the Falcons are getting a major bargain. Allgeier and Robinson take up around $7.2 million of cap space combined. If you look at what some of the top backs make around the league, it's hard to find a better value in the NFL at running back.
Top free agent RBs available:
We think the Falcons will stand pat with their current group, however, adding a veteran like Jamaal Williams would make some sense.
Predictions/expectations for RBs in 2025:
Robinson just posted a career-high 1,456 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He should only get better with a more explosive passing attack to complement him in 2025. Allgeier is a perfect change-of-pace back whose bruising style wears out opposing defenders late in games. Corbin is an exciting prospect with a real chance to make the roster now that the team has released McClellan.
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Falcons Wide Receiver Breakdown
Dec 16, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) celebrates with wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Drake London , Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud will again serve as Atlanta's top three wideouts. The team signed Agnew to take over the kick/punt return duties from former Falcons running back Avery Williams . Outside of the top guys, look out for Chris Blair , David Sills and Nash to be in the mix for a spot on the 53-man roster. Don't sleep on second-year wideout Casey Washington , who played a role on special teams last season as a rookie.
WR Depth Chart (13):
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Drake London
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Darnell Mooney
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Ray-Ray McCloud
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Casey Washington
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Chris Blair
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David Sills
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Quincy Skinner Jr.
2025 salary cap hits for Falcons WRs:
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Mooney:$14,480,000
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London:$6,851,878
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McCloud:$4,120,000
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Hodge:$2,135,000
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Agnew:$1,730,000
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Washington:$1,008,399
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Sills:$1,100,000
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Blair:$960,000
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Polk:$852,500
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Nash:$846,666
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Skinner:$842,000
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Drummond:$840,000
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Matthews:$840,000
Mooney has the highest cap hit of the team's wide receivers in 2025. The former Bear finished with 992 receiving yards last season and that was without playing in the final game. London has the second-highest cap hit as he enters his fourth season in Atlanta. The team just picked up London's fifth-year option, assuring he'll be with the team through the 2026 season at least. Hodge signed a two-year, $6 million contract to remain in Atlanta.
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Top free agent WRs available:
Atlanta has a nice wide receiver core, so we don't foresee the team bringing in any of the big-name players available at the position. Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper will probably only be considered if the team suffered an injury to one of its top receivers.
Predictions/expectations for WRs in 2025:
The Falcons did not draft a single wide receiver, nor did they make any significant additions in free agency. The group will continue to be led by an ascending London, who's firmly established himself as the No. 1 option, and Mooney, who quietly had a nice season as the team's No. 2 wideout. Agnew likely won't play a major role on offense but is a huge special teams signing. McCloud returns as the team's slot receiver after a career year in 2024. Atlanta should have one of the better wide receiver rooms in the NFL this season.
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Falcons Tight End Breakdown
The Falcons did not re-sign Ross Dwelley in free agency but brought in Teagan Quitoriano and Feleipe Franks for depth behind Pitts and Woerner. Pitts will likely continue to play a hybrid tight end/wide receiver role with Woerner playing a more traditional in-line blocker role. Franks is still a project but has a chance to make the roster due to his versatility. The team is also high on undrafted free agent Joshua Simon , a projected Day 3 pick out of South Carolina.
TE Depth Chart (6):
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Teagan Quitoriano
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Feleipe Franks
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Joshua Simon
2025 salary cap hits for Falcons TEs:
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Pitts:$10,878,000
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Woerner:$3,730,000
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Franks:$1,420,000
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Quitoriano:$1,100,000
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Kalinic:$965,000
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Simon:$846,666
Pitts is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The team picked up his fifth-year option, which will cost $10.8 million this season. The former No. 4 pick should have all the motivation in the world to play his best this season and cash during the offseason, either in Atlanta or somewhere else. Woerner is set to earn just under $3.75 million this season. Nobody else is set to make over $1.5 million in 2025.
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Top free agent TEs available:
The team could look to free agency to add another tight end before training camp. Two former Falcons players would make interesting fits. Hayden Hurst and MyCole Pruitt had success during their time in Atlanta and could be valuable depth additions. Veterans Gerald Everett and CJ Uzomah are also options for the Falcons in free agency.
Predictions/expectations for TEs 2025
The Falcons did not draft a tight end and will look to Pitts and Woerner to lead the room yet again in 2025. Woerner rarely gets the recognition he deserves but is one of the better blocking tight ends in the league. Pitts has moments where he looks like a top-five pick, and others where he seems to disappear. I think the consistent presence of Penix will bring out the best in Pitts this season. I don't think he tops 1,000 yards but could get close if he stays healthy.
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Falcons Offensive Tackle Breakdown
December 19, 2021; Santa Clara, California, USA; Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Jake Matthews (70) during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jake Matthews has been solid throughout his 11-year career in Atlanta. The team will lean on the 33-year-old to start at left tackle once again in Year 12. While the Falcons did not commit major resources to the offensive tackle position, they did nab 6-foot-7 rookie Jack Nelson in the seventh round of the draft. Nelson excels as a zone-blocker and should be a good developmental prospect behind Matthews.
Left Tackle Depth Chart
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Jake Matthews
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Jack Nelson
Right Tackle Depth Chart
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Jordan Williams
Matthews and McGary will lead the way yet again in 2025. The two former first-round picks have been a reliable bookends along Atlanta's offensive line. While McGary will be under more pressure this season with lefty Michael Penix Jr. taking over at quarterback, he's steadily improved as a pass blocker since entering the league in 2019. Storm Norton is a quality backup who's played well when called upon in the past.
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2025 salary cap hits for Falcons OTs
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Kaleb McGary:$16,500,000
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Jake Matthews:$13,273,713
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Storm Norton:$1,500,000
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Brandon Parker:$1,030,000
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Tyrone Wheatley Jr.:$960,000
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Jack Nelson:$878,154
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Jordan Williams:$843,333
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Kilian Zierer:$840,000
Matthews lowered his cap hit for 2025 when he signed a two-year, $45 million extension just before the start of NFL free agency. That leaves McGary as the team's highest-paid offensive tackle this season with a cap hit of $16.5 million. Norton will make the third-most this season ($1.5 million) and the rest top out at $1 million. Overall, the team is paying over $30 million to its top three offensive tackles.
Top free agent OTs available:
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George Fant
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Tyron Smith (retired)
Fant was released by the Seahawks and has starting experience. If the team ends up needing an offensive tackle, he would have to be high on the list. There aren't many good options available in free agency this late in the offseason, but Andrus Peat and Isaiah Wynn are potential targets.
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Predictions/expectations for OTs in 2025
As you can see, the Falcons have a pretty good situation at tackle. Not only do they have two capable starters in Matthews and McGary, but they have a quality swing tackle in Storm Norton and a promising rookie in Jack Nelson. With there being change at the center position, the entire line will have to step up. One thing to watch this season is how McGary holds up as Penix Jr.'s blind-side protector.
Falcons Offensive Guard Breakdown
Chris Lindstrom is arguably the top guard in the game, and Matthew Bergeron , while not a popular pick at the time, has solidified the left guard position over the last two seasons in Atlanta. While offensive linemen don't get much recognition, the Falcons have two extremely talented duos at guard and tackle.
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Left Guard Depth Chart:
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Matthew Bergeron
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Joshua Gray (R)
Right Guard Depth Chart:
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Chris Lindstrom
Behind Bergeron are veteran Elijah Wilkinson and undrafted free agent Josh Gray. Wilkinson has starting experience at both guard and tackle, making him a valuable backup. Gray was a projected Day 3 draft pick who will likely take a developmental role this season. Hinton doesn't have a ton of experience but he's been around for the last few seasons, so there's some familiarity there.
2025 salary cap hits for Falcons guards:
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Chris Lindstrom:$12,250,000
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Kyle Hinton:$2,500,000
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Matthew Bergeron:$2,448,677
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Elijah Wilkinson:$1,197,500
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Joshua Gray:$846,600
Overall, the Falcons have roughly $20 million in salary cap space committed to the guard position. Lindstrom is one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the NFL, but no other player on the roster will top the $2.5 million mark in 2025. Bergeron is a major bargain at $2.4 million, but he'll be up for an extension soon.
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Top free agent guards available:
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Jon Feliciano (Retired)
At this point in the offseason, very few impact free agents remain. If the Falcons are desperate to add someone, the best options are Brandon Scherff, Will Hernandez and Dalton Risner. We don't foresee the team bringing in anyone at guard, assuming the current group stays healthy. Letting a young player like Joshua Gray develop is probably a better use of a roster spot than adding a veteran to sit on the bench.
Predictions/expectations for OGs in 2025:
The Falcons have two very good starters at the guard position and they should be even better in Year 2 of Zac Robinson's system. As mentioned above, the only real question mark surrounding Atlanta's guards is how the loss of Dalman will affect their play this season. The team has decent depth with versatile backup Elijah Wilkinson, and a good developmental option in Joshua Gray. It should be a good year for this group in 2025.
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Falcons Center Breakdown
Sep 29, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons guard Ryan Neuzil (64) in action against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
As you can see below, there's no real threat or competition for Ryan Neuzil at center. Gwyn is a former seventh-round pick and has only appeared in two career games. Cindric is a former undrafted free agent who spent his first year in Minnesota . The Falcons signed Gonzalez is an undrafted free agent out of Louisville while they waited for Neuzil to sign his contract.
Center Depth Chart:
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Ryan Neuzil
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Matthew Cindric
2025 salary cap hits for Falcons centers:
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Neuzil:$3,263,000
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Gwyn:$1,030,000
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Cindric:$840,000
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Gonzalez:$840,000
The Falcons signed Neuzil to a two-year, $9.5 million deal in late May. His 2025 salary cap hit is $3.2 million, which isn't bad for a starting offensive lineman. Gwyn has the second-highest cap hit of the team's centers at $1 million this season. Cindric and Gonzalez are outside of the Falcons' top 51 players in terms of salary cap this season ($840,000 apiece).
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Top free agent centers available:
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David Andrews (retired)
The free-agent center market leaves a lot to be desired. It's clear why the team felt bringing back Neuzil was its best option. Former Patriots center David Andrews would have been a good option but he opted to retire following his release. Dan Feeney and Nick Gates are a few low-end options the team could consider if they don't like their current group.
Predictions/expectations for centers in 2025:
Neuzil is a former undrafted free agent who's spent his entire career as a backup. He played well in place of Dalman last season and now it's his time to shine. While Neuzil doesn't have much experience, he's in a good spot playing between Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom and former second-round pick Matthew Bergeron. If Neuzil doesn't get the job done this season, perhaps the team will give Gwyn a look.
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This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons 2025 roster breakdown: Offensive position groups
