Training camp starts near the end of this month, and one of the chief questions surrounding the Atlanta Falcons is who plays corner opposite A.J. Terrell and safety opposite Jessie Bates. There are rumblings about who they could be, but the battle for both spots is still up in the air, making for a bit of concern, especially given the uncertainty regarding fit in both spots. However, Falcons beat writer for The Athletic, Josh Kendall, stated that despite the uncertainty, the secondary isn’t the number one concern for the Falcons going into 2024.
The Falcons are making bets up and down their wide receiver depth chart, specifically that Drake London can be a No. 1 wide receiver, Darnell Mooney can be a No. 2 and Rondale Moore can be a No. 3.
London, the team’s No. 8 pick in 2022, has shown glimpses of being up to the job but hasn’t had enough quality quarterback play to prove it. He hasn’t topped 1,000 yards in either of his two professional seasons and has had only three 100-yard games in his career. Mooney, too, has shown at least one burst of his potential, leading the Bears in receiving in 2021 with 81 catches for 1,055 yards. However, he’s had only 907 combined yards in the two seasons since. Moore, acquired via trade in exchange for Desmond Ridder, hasn’t topped 54 catches or 435 receiving yards in his career, and his yardage total has dipped each year in the league.
For an offense that is going to lean so much on its passing game and a team that’s going to lean so much on its offense, that’s a big bet. Beyond the top three, Atlanta will be filling its 53-man roster with some combination of KhaDarel Hodge, Ray-Ray McCloud III, Casey Washington, Austin Mack, Josh Ali, Daylen Baldwin, Chris Blair, Dylan Drummond, OJ Hiliare and Isaiah Wooden.
When you see the Falcons and the aggressive manner that they addressed the receiver position this off-season, concern isn’t the first feeling that comes to mind. However, Kendall makes valid points.
We don’t know how Mooney will look as a Z opposite London. We don’t know how Moore and McCloud will fit in a gadget-type role. Hell, we don’t even know how London will look as the number-one guy in a Shanahan/McVay-style offense. We can only project.
But when given London’s ability to work from the slot and outside the numbers, it’s easy to see him being the primary receiver in this offense. When Mooney creates separation outside the numbers and stretches the field vertically for the Chicago Bears, you can see where that complementary fit comes from. Even seeing Moore in his pseudo-running back role as an Arizona Cardinal last season, there’s a pathway to Moore being that motion-based, gadget guy for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
This receiver room is all based on projection. That’s true. But the guesses that fans are making, as well as the front office, are based on things these players have done before.
While Atlanta doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt based on how the passing game has looked over the past three years, they seem to be on the right track with this group of pass-catchers.
