Bleacher Report went through all 32 teams and essentially scouted them all to find one last move to beef up the rosters before the start of the 2024 season. For the Atlanta Falcons, Bleacher Report's Matt Holder believes the Falcons should have some insurance for what is already a strength. Holder believes Atlanta should add free agent guard Phil Haynes, who last played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023.
Matthew Bergeron struggled a bit last year as a rookie and while it's far too early to give up on him, it might be smart for Atlanta to bring in a veteran insurance policy just in case he stumbles out of the gates.
Haynes has experience playing both guard spots, so he could be a solid backup option at least.
Plus, the five-year pro played for Shane Waldron in Seattle over the last three years, and both Waldron and Zac Robinson come from Sean McVay's coaching tree. So, the guard should have some familiarity with the scheme.
Granted, Haynes did battle injuries last season, so this pairing would depend on how his medicals check out.
Last season, the Falcons were dead last in the percentage of runs between the guards (21%), meaning that head coach Arthur Smith didn't rely on the young Bergeron and Pro Bowler Chris Lindstrom to get the duo of Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson going. The difference between them and the Miami Dolphins in 31st (37%) is the same as the Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles who were 17th (53%).
On the contrary, the Los Angeles Rams, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson's former employer, ran between the guards ninth-most (54%). While Haynes may be insurance in case of a Bergeron drop-off, there seems to be more of a necessity for good guard play, especially if they will be as run-centric as they look to be with the duo of Robinson and Allgeier.
