West Atlanta News

When the Falcons' initial 53-man roster was released at 4 p.m. Tuesday, there were few surprises.

After much speculation, the Falcons chose to carry three quarterbacks: Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr., and Taylor Heinicke. DeAngelo Malone, an important player in special teams, made the cut, bringing the Falcons' outside linebacker group to four with James Smith-Williams listed as a defensive lineman.

Surprise cuts included cornerback Kevin King and wide receiver Chris Blair. Both were standouts in the preseason and seemed to be important depth pieces for the Falcons. However, when the announcement came, the team revealed its decision to keep five players at those specific position groups.

DeMarcco Hellams was officially placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury sustained in the Falcons' first preseason game in Miami but was designated to return. This expected move leaves open the possibility for Hellams to come back later in the season.

Looking at the 53-man roster as it stands, these were the most notable surprises. Compared to previous years, this year's surprises didn't feel very surprising at all. Perhaps King and Blair being left off would count as surprises, but that's it.

This speaks to several factors but most notably that the roster is set up in a way that brokers no surprises any longer.

By examining salary cap distribution, it's evident that the Falcons transitioned from piecing together a roster with young draft picks and cost-effective free agents on short-term deals to trading for Pro Bowlers, signing All-Pros, and extending their own players.

This is a significant change from where the team was financially in 2022 when trading quarterback Matt Ryan resulted in taking one of the largest dead money hits in league history at that time. By doing so then, it set them up for a cap resurgence now.

Entering the 2024 offseason with substantial cap space—the second-most in the league—the Falcons made moves they previously couldn't afford. They signed franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins, built depth in wide receivers, brought in Pro-Bowlers Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons, and extended A.J. Terrell's contract. These moves followed key defensive signings last offseason of Jessie Bates III, David Onyemata, and Kaden Elliss.

This is what happens when a team's salary cap is healthy; such are the caliber of moves possible when there's financial room to maneuver. The Falcons' initial 53-man roster evidences years of work put into stabilizing their financial situation.