The Atlanta Falcons have trimmed down their 90-man training camp roster to the official initial 53-man roster. When having to release 37 players, there are multiple tough decisions that head coach Raheem Morris has to make as he continues to get ready for the 2024 NFL season. Those decisions lead to some surprising cuts to us on the outside of the Flowery Branch facility. So, The Sporting News-Atlanta Falcons team gives their roundtable reaction, recognizing the most surprising cuts from this annual mass exodus as we get ready for the start of the season.
Kenny Gritz: Demone Harris
There weren’t a whole lot of surprises at the roster cut deadline for Atlanta, but the release of EDGE Demone Harris did raise an eyebrow. Overall, Harris played well in preseason games both as a rusher and edge setter. On the field, he seemed to outperform DeAngelo Malone, grading out with a solid 76.6 PFF grade for the preseason. Malone did provide more juice on special teams. It’s an understandable decision, but a bit of a risky one given the relative lack of depth at the position.
Tre’Shon Diaz: LaCale London
We knew from the beginning that there would be some tough choices in the defensive line room, and LaCale London, unfortunately, had his name called today.
By nature of what he’s asked to do as a player, London was a bit expendable, but he’s good at what he does (a stout run-defending DT that can operate from the 0-1 technique alignments. Per PFF, London took 204 snaps on defense in 2023.
While he only suited up for seven games, he was still ranked as the second-best run-defender among defensive linemen on the team, behind only David Onyemata. He would finish the season ranked ninth-best overall on run defense per PFF.
With multiple rookies and the return of Eddie Goldman, it was going to be an uphill battle to make the initial 53-man cut, but there’s a good chance Atlanta will try to stash him on the practice squad if he can clear waivers.
Hunter Thompson: John Fitzpatrick
This finally felt like the year that Fitzpatrick would make the roster.
The 6’7” 250lb UGA product felt like a shoo-in for TE3 behind Kyle Pitts and Charlie Woerner. Kyle Pitts feels like he will have a more hybrid role and Fitzpatrick felt like the natural candidate to be behind Woerner on the depth chart. His size, frame, and blocking ability felt like the perfect 13-personnel body to help drive in goal-line Touchdowns and some good personnel packages.
But alas, the former Dawg was cut and thus continues the trend of late-round UGA players not making the roster.
Clint Goss: Kevin King
Making news first for his return to the NFL, second for his interception versus the Miami Dolphins, and lastly for playing Safety for the first time against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it seemed familiar friend Kevin King had done enough to grab the projected sixth corner spot. At the least put up a fight with CB Natrone Brooks in what seemed an apparent “battle.”
One problem.
Raheem Morris & Terry Fontenot only retained five: A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes, Clark Phillips III, & Antonio Hamilton Sr. are the cornerback room.
Corner Round 1?
Saivion Mixson: Natrone Brooks
One of the lone bright spots from what was an uneventful preseason. Brooks had a chance to secure himself a spot on special teams but struggled to field a few punts.
Okay, fine.
But did you see what he did on the defensive side of the ball? He showed a nose for the football that not all cornerbacks have, especially in run support. His 13 tackles in the game against the Baltimore Ravens were twice of any other Atlanta defender. His forced fumble was one of the only bright spots of the game for the Falcons.
It just felt like he had done enough for us to get one more sip of Natrone in 2024.
