Atlanta Falcons: 5 players with something to prove in 2016

Admittedly, it’s hard being critical of a player who is the franchise’s greatest receiver all-time, but Roddy White will need to prove that he can have a more defined role in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s West Coast offense in 2016.

White has two more years left on his contract with the Atlanta Falcons, wanting to play presumably his final year in the Red and Black in the brand-new Mercedes-Benz Stadium next door to the Georgia Dome. However, White will need to do better than 43 catches for 506 yards and a touchdown in 2016 if he wants to stay on as the Atlanta Falcons’ No. 2 wide receiver behind Julio Jones in 2017.

White will turn 35 in November of the 2016 NFL season and is clearly past his prime as an NFL wide receiver. However, he still has great hands and the necessary competitiveness to make plays as a possession receiver in Shanahan’s West Coast system.

Since the Atlanta Falcons aren’t particularly deep at either wide receiver or tight end entering 2016’s free agency period or the NFL Draft, White will need to figure out how he can give the Atlanta Falcons between 750 and 1,000 receiving yards in 2016 to make sure that 2017 is still an option for him in Atlanta.

Next: 4. Devin Hester