Atlanta Falcons: Offseason Panic Mode 2021 Edition

The Atlanta Falcons finished 2020 the worst in the division. There’s plenty of panic for their offseason having won only 4 games. Can the 2021 offseason be the start of something big or should they hit the reset button?

Take Value For Matty Ice?

The Eagles moved on from Carson Went. The Lions moved on from Matthew Stafford. LA moved on from Jared Goff. Plenty of teams are taking advantage of a fresh start and it might be time for the Falcons to do the same. Matt Ryan has served Atlanta well, but he’s just not getting it done. Should ATL move on while there’s still a chance to get good picks in return while in a position to draft his replacement?

Bulk Up That Defense

No matter how you look at the Atlanta defense when your division rivals win the Super Bowl it’s time to make some changes. Defenders need to get to the quarterbacks, secondary needs to create more turnovers, and playmakers need to develop. If defense wins championships then the Falcons are the furthest things from champions. Every level of their defense could use an upgrade.

More NFL: New Orleans Saints Offseason Panic Mode

Balance the Run Game

Part of the reason the Falcons and Matt Ryan have struggled is reliance on the passing game. The mediocre run game is slowing down the offense. Even if they draft a playmaker early on, they’ll need more than one to make it work. There are too many holes on offense to address them all at once but the main focus needs to be the ground game.

Stars Will Be Cut

With their current cap, there are plenty of fan favorites who could not be in Atlanta next year. Cap is an issue for most of the league and Atlanta might have to consider trading with teams who can afford contracts. They’re far off from their Super Bowl year and it might be time to pull a full strip-down and restock on talent/picks. They’ve gone back to a semi-rebuild before but now its time to rip the bandaid off before the cap situation fixes itself in a year or two.

The Atlanta Falcons can’t keep holding on to their beliefs of potential. They proved last year that their Super Bowl run was a fluke and need to do something drastic to get back on track. Will the 2021 offseason be that drastic?