There's Always Next Year: Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta has spent the past three years watching the core of its 2012 NFC title game team fade out before its very eyes. Nobody epitomized that more than Roddy White last season. The former Falcons star receiver couldn't separate from man-to-man coverage, making him a tough target on the kind of routes preferred by offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Nobody behind White stepped up to unseat him as the No. 2 receiver though, and so the Falcons' passing game got stuck in quicksand.

The most important thing to remember about Atlanta's fall this year is that it came because of below-average roster spots. The Falcons went all-in on Julio Jones early in Thomas Dimitroff's term as general manager, trading several draft picks to get him in the 2011 Draft. While that move worked out in a big way, the Falcons haven't been as successful at developing depth—something the picks could have helped shore up.

White has spent a lot of this offseason talking himself up as being ready to return. I wouldn't be so sure if I were him, but if he does come back to Atlanta, he can't be the No. 2 target.

Coach and Quarterback Confidence Rating: 6/10

Matt Ryan had an interesting first year in Shanahan's system. The quarterback was accurate. He played with enough poise to help offset some of Atlanta's offensive line issues. But he also had his most turnover-prone season since entering the NFL.

There are a lot of reasons to believe that the latter was something of a fluke rather than a sign of his imminent demise. For one thing, Ryan was learning a new offense. For another, he likely forced throws to Jones because Jones was the only good receiver on the field.

Dan Quinn's first year as a head coach saw some successes, but this was a team in transition, and I don't think he had optimal solutions at most positions. While it's way too early to write his obituary, he probably can't get away with a second year of this sort of inconsistency.

Key Offseason Decision: How can they fix this pass rush?

The Falcons spent a first-round pick on edge rusher Vic Beasley, Jr., who had 4.5 sacks as a rookie despite playing through a torn labrum. Edge rushers who provide pressure but little in the way of sacks generally tend to improve in their second year. Khalil Mack and Mario Williams, to name two, busted out in their sophomore seasons.

Even if Beasley improves, though, that will only do so much for the Falcons, who finished dead last in adjusted sack rate in 2015. If Beasley had 12.5 sacks last season, the Falcons would still have been in the bottom four in total sacks.

Atlanta can't give opponents this much time to throw and still expect to win. Bringing in Seattle veteran O'Brien Schofield helps in the sense that he can teach the system, but the Falcons need to create more pressure somehow. Perhaps it's blitzing more, or perhaps it is acquiring a second bookend next to Beasley. It's hard to find sacks on the open market, so this is almost undoubtedly a draft dream.

Major Free Agents: DE Adrian Clayborn, RG Chris Chester, DE O'Brien Schofield, K Shayne Graham, DE Kroy Biermann

Not a lot of free agents worth pursuing here. (I know, surprising considering the depth issues.) Clayborn is a good situational rusher who had his best year since injuries ruined his Tampa career. Chester had a decent season, but for an NFL offensive lineman, 33 might as well be going on 90 years old.

Right tackle Ryan Schraeder is the hottest free agent on the Atlanta market after having a good season, but since he's restricted, the Falcons can make it too expensive for anyone to actually explore signing him. Expect them to do so.

Cap Situation: $27,489,014—14th in the NFL

Atlanta's already released safety William Moore and linebacker Justin Durant. Getting rid of White, which I discussed earlier, would help shed another $2.3 million (more if they make him a post-June 1 cut). It's all but a done deal that nose tackle Paul Soliai will be released, freeing up another $2.6 million in cap space.

The Falcons don't have much else to do after that. They could get rid of a few more veterans to free up a tiny chunk of cap space, but a lot of their current space is tied up in dead cap hits. Were it not for the $15 million in dead cap space, Atlanta would be a top-10 cap space team.

As for what they should do? If an edge rusher they like makes it to the market, sign him fast. Inside linebacker is another position of need, and the secondary could use shoring up, as well. The Falcons are not in dire straits, and Ryan and Jones could woo some good free agents. It would be a welcome boost to a team that could use fresh blood.