ESPN NFL analytics analyst Aaron Schatz gave insight on the biggest roster hole for each NFL team post-NFL draft. For the Atlanta Falcons, Schatz labeled a position in the defensive secondary, but maybe not the one that you would think.
Jessie Bates III is a star at free safety, but the Falcons' strong safety position is a mess. Richie Grant has regressed significantly in his three NFL seasons, in particular giving up a lot of big plays to opposing tight ends. (Atlanta ranked 31st in DVOA in covering tight ends last season.) The alternative to Grant is 2023 seventh-rounder DeMarcco Hellams. He's physical but lacks speed, so he might also be a problem when covering tight ends. Micah Abernathy is primarily a special teams gunner. Lukas Denis spent all last year on Atlanta's practice squad.
Atlanta did not add another safety to the roster through the draft nor free agency, signaling a belief in Richie Grant that may not necessarily be warranted. Since being drafted, Grant has let up a passer rating of 131.7, 85.1 and 131.4 in each year.
More of the discussion has surrounded the cornerback room for the Falcons, but with a two-high system in place, Bates will need a reliable running mate on the back end. So far, it doesn't seem that Grant can be that and, as Schatz pointed out, there doesn't seem to be another ready-made solution on the roster. On top of that, the Falcons are up against the cap, having only $5.7 million to spare, making the list of available options outside the building pretty thin.
One option that could work is former Los Angeles Rams safety John Johnson, who posted a passer rating of 48.2 allowed last season.
