West Atlanta News

The Atlanta Falcons experienced a surprising turnaround in their pass rush during the latter part of the 2024 NFL season. Entering their bye week ranked last in the league with only ten sacks, they managed to secure 21 sacks from weeks 13 to 18, ranking second in the league during that period.

Despite this improvement, public opinion about Atlanta's edge rushers remains unchanged. The team recorded 31 sacks throughout the season, the second-lowest total in the NFL, with edge rushers contributing 15.5 of those. Arnold Ebiketie emerged as a standout performer, leading all defenders with six sacks—five occurring after the bye week. As he enters his fourth season, Ebiketie expressed optimism about building on his late-season performance.

Matthew Judon was expected to bolster Atlanta's pass rush but fell short of expectations despite finishing strong with three sacks between weeks 14 and 17. Judon is now a free agent entering the offseason.

James Smith-Williams showed promise as a run defender before suffering a season-ending injury against New Orleans in Week 10. Zach Harrison demonstrated growth by adapting to a new role within Atlanta's defensive scheme and making an impact on the line.

Demone Harris and DeAngelo Malone also contributed unexpectedly as pass rushers later in the season. Lorenzo Carter struggled to make an impact despite significant playing time and failed to record any sacks for the first time in his career.

Bralen Trice's preseason injury left questions about what could have been for both him and the team. His potential return could provide much-needed support for Atlanta's pass rush next season.

Notable returners include Arnold Ebiketie, Bralen Trice, Zach Harrison, and DeAngelo Malone. Key free agents are Matthew Judon, Lorenzo Carter, James Smith-Williams, and Demone Harris.

Atlanta faces challenges heading into 2025 regarding its edge rusher group. Even without losing players like Judon or Carter to free agency, additions are necessary given their low sack total last year.

The upcoming NFL Draft offers opportunities for acquiring promising defensive talent at pick No. 15 or through strategic trades while navigating limited cap space may hinder pursuing high-cost free agents effectively.

Ultimately success hinges upon continued development among existing young players combined with smart drafting decisions focused on enhancing defense capabilities overall moving forward into next year's campaign.

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