With the waiver wire process in progress, the Atlanta Falcons should be putting in more than one claim with a few of the names that got cut yesterday. If general manager Terry Fontenot needs some help figuring out which ones, don't worry, the Falcons Roundtable here at the Sporting News has him covered. We all give Fontenot one player the Falcons should pick up before the start of the 2024 NFL season.
Don't worry Atlanta, we got you.
Kenny Gritz: RB Kene Nwangu, Minnesota Vikings
I know what you’re thinking, do the Falcons really need another running back?
Not really, but Kene Nwangu is more than that.
The former Iowa State Cyclone is one of the most dynamic return men in the league. With three return touchdowns to his name, Nwangu could provide a spark on special teams and fits the profile teams are looking for with the new return rules in place.
Measuring in at 6’1” and over 200lbs with a 4.32 40-yard dash time to boot, Nwangu’s size-speed profile will be highly sought after. Atlanta should make a claim on the 4th-year back and give him the opportunity to immediately contribute in the third phase of the game.
Tre’shon Diaz: QB Desmond Ridder, Arizona Cardinals
It’s not often a quarterback and team leader with 17 starts under their belt hits free agency. It is unknown if Ridder will clear waivers, but if he does Atlanta could explore moving off of Taylor Heinicke in favor of the young QB.
Ridder would offer the same level of play as Heinicke for a fraction of the cost. A familiar face, Ridder is familiar with most of the Falcons' offense and secondary; with him being so crucial to the locker room in 2023, the emotional effect of adding him back to the team would be immense.
QB3 is by no means a priority but…
Hunter Thompson: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Detroit Lions
The Falcons needing an X receiver has felt like something I have been screaming into the void for months now. And they have failed to go really address the issue and seem to be leaning towards WR Darnell Mooney being the option there.
DPJ is not a flashy option, as he has never had a 1000-yard season and has just been cut off his second team. But he has experience playing significant snaps over his career with 31 career starts on 58 games played.
The 6’2” 210lber is probably a cheaper option that gives the Falcons another physical weapon for quarterback Kirk Cousins to use.
Clint Goss: WR Noah Brown, WR, Houston Texans
GM Terry Fontenot has $7.67 Million in available 2024 cap space (3rd least in the NFL) now that the cornerback A.J.Terrell extension, strong safety Justin Simmons free agency signing, & outside linebacker Matthew Judon trade are official. With the least 2024 dead money in the NFL and few “holes”, keep spending.
6’2, 225-pound WR Noah Brown isn’t your average WR5 league-wide. Stefon Diggs (All-Pro), Nico Collins (1,300 yards in 2023), Tank Dell (leading all rookies in receiving categories before injury last year), & John Metchie III (2,000+ yards as an Alabama upperclassman) say hello to the 28-year-old Brown.
- 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys:
16 Games, 43 REC, 555 yards (12.9 YPC), & 3 TDs
- 2023 with the Texans:
10 Games, 33 REC, 567 yards (17.2 YPC), & 2 TDs
On a 1-year, $4 Million deal at cut, Brown projects roughly as WR3 in Atlanta.
Saivion Mixson: Ahkello Witherspoon, Los Angeles Rams
Oh, you thought just because we got through cuts that this discussion was going away?
Not a chance.
Atlanta only kept five cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster. All that means is that a cornerback is coming in the next few days and who better than a corner that had his best year in his first year in the defense?
- 52 total tackles (43 solo)
- Three interceptions
- Two fumble recoveries
- 14 PBUs
- 75.7 passer rating when targeted (ninth-best among corners with 75+ targets)
That sounds like something he could build off of, especially with the talented secondary he would have around him in Atlanta.
