Atlanta Falcons: 5 players with something to prove in 2016

In the final four weeks of the 2015 NFL season, we finally saw a bit of what the Atlanta Falcons hoped they were getting when they drafted defensive end Vic Beasley out of Clemson University at No. 8 in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Beasley was able to getter pressure on the quarterback, make plays in space, and set up his teammates for pass rushing plays. He did all of this with a torn labrum in his rookie year on a weak pass rushing team in 2015.

However, being that he came to Atlanta as a franchise pass rushing talent out of nearby Clemson, Beasley will have to do better than 4.0 sacks and 27 tackles in his sophomore year with the Atlanta Falcons. Most players do end up improving the most from the first and second years in the league, as knowing what it takes to play in the NFL becomes crystal clear in terms of preparation and in-game execution.

Don’t expect Vic Beasley in year two in Atlanta to have 10.0+ sacks, but we should see signs of vast improvement from his overall motor, his ability to play in multiple situations, and most importantly his ability to fit into head coach Dan Quinn’s 4-3 Under defensive scheme. 2016 is a huge year for Vic Beasley.

Next: 1. Jalen Collins