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Falcons Already Cut Ties With 4 Players This Offseason

By Chris Schad

Nov 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the field during the game against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Nov 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on the field during the game against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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The Atlanta Falcons came into the 2024 season with loft expectations but came up short in their main goal of making a deep run into the playoffs. What started with the hiring of Raheem Morris reached a fever pitch when the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins during free agency but the selection of Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick sent mixed signals.

The Falcons still got off to a good start with a 6-3 record but lost six of their final eight games and benched Cousins in favor of Penix to finish with an 8-9 record. While the Falcons missed the playoffs, the good news is that Atlanta has already begun assembling its roster with Penix as their lead signal caller heading into 2025.

The Falcons' offseason began when they signed 12 players to reserve/futures contracts on Jan. 6. The group included defensive tackle Junior Aho; wide receivers Phillip Dorsett II, Dylan Drummond and Jesse Matthews; running back Elijah Dotson; offensive guards Joey Fisher and Jovaughn Gwyn; defensive backs Lamar Jackson and Benny Sapp III; quarterback Emory Jones; defensive end Khalid Kareem; and offensive tackle Tyrone Whatley Jr.

Atlanta also agreed to a reserve futures contract with center Matthew Cindric and added defensive lineman LaCale London on Jan. 17, wide receiver David Sills on Jan. 21 and tight end Nikola Kalinic on Jan. 28.

In the end, four players from last year’s practice squad were not signed to reserve/futures contracts. That list features quarterback Nathan Peterman, defensive tackle Kyler Baugh, inside linebacker Rashaan Evans, tight end Armani Rogers.

With those four players onto new teams, it will kick off an intriguing offseason for the Falcons. While Penix will be the starter, the Falcons need to make a decision on Cousins’s future. While previous reports suggest he will be traded or released before a $10 million roster bonus is due on March 17, Morris suggested that he could return as a backup although it’s highly unlikely considering Cousins’s $40 million cap hit for 2025.

With improvement needed in the pass rush, secondary and offensive line, the Falcons need to get creative in building around Penix. But it all will play out over the next several months.

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