The Atlanta Falcons had an incredible offseason with very few early misses to complain about. The initial success is showing up on defense with linebackers Divine Deablo and Leonard Floyd both jumping off the screen early in the year. Add in an incredible rookie defensive class, and this has a chance to be the best Atlanta offseason since the decisions that set up the infamous 2016 Super Bowl run.
At the same time, general manager Terry Fontenot did make at least one decision that is aging poorly.
Extending Kaleb McGary was understandable in some ways, but it hasn't aged well after the right tackle suffered a camp injury that has him out for the 2025 season. That brings up the Falcons' lone miss of Atlanta's 2025 offseason, which was signing offensive tackle Storm Norton as the primary backup option behind McGary and Jake Matthews.
Norton's signing wasn't a huge surprise given his previous experience in Atlanta, but that doesn't mean it isn't a decision Fortnenot & Co. would like to have back.
Falcons Likely Have Buyer's Remorse After Storm Norton's Slow Start
Norton's return appeared to offer a level of stability and was a bargain signing at the time, with a $1.2 million base salary, having the chance to be a complete steal. Instead, the signing has turned into a bust with the tackle out for the foreseeable future due to a lower leg injury. It forced Atlanta into desperation mode and brought back Elijah Wilkinson, who has been shockingly capable on the outside.
The Falcons are now one injury away from a potential disaster due to the team's inability to bring in reliable depth or find answers after both Norton and McGary went down. While such a low-dollar signing isn't going to hurt the Falcons' cap space, it is objectively a bust and the worst decision the Falcons made in a long line of great ones.
The fact that Norton is the most frustrating addition two weeks into the season speaks to an Atlanta roster that is playing at a far higher level than expected. It seems that the defensive adjustments have clicked, and the Falcons' offense looks promising with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. leading the charge.
The Falcons' outlook could quickly change if the injuries keep mounting, pointing to the fact that bringing back Norton was a mistake. Hopefully, he gets healthy and turns the page; otherwise, Atlanta might have to find a way to replace him soon.