One of the biggest question marks the Atlanta Falcons are facing heading into the summer is the uncertain future of kicker Younghoe Koo.
After years of being historically reliable for the franchise, the wheels fell off at the worst possible time. Injuries were blamed for the struggles, and Koo was replaced by Riley Patterson to end the 2024 season.
It is hard to believe that this type of season didn't severely damage the veteran's confidence. The position includes an incredible amount of mental stress that Koo had never shown signs of succumbing to before last season. Koo put up his worst season and cost the Falcons at times when it mattered the most.
With this in mind, the offseason signing of German kicker Lenny Krieg is extremely noteworthy and worth keeping an eye on heading into the 2025 season.
While the Falcons might be saying all of the right things about Koo's future with the team, this signing indicates an eye towards the future. This is justified, looking back at just how poorly Koo played down the stretch of last season. Whether it was chip shots or a longer attempt, it was a guessing game whether or not the veteran could be relied upon.
Falcons are Preparing to Move on From K Younghoe Koo
It is important to note that this in no way indicates the Falcons are going to cut the proven veteran kicker. It will be the last resort if the Falcons see signs of last year's struggles still present. Krieg is an unproven wildcard who simply shows that the team is doing what it can to prepare in case there isn't the expected improvement.
Whether it was an injury that caused the struggles, a change in delivery, or simply the mental toll of the position is up for debate. Koo failing so miserably demanded that the Falcons at least go through the motions of bringing in a second option. One that is going to be handed the chance to push the veteran kicker and attempt to win a surprise job.
Still, the most likely way that this plays out is Koo returning to form, putting an outlier of a 2024 season behind him. Needless to say, it's a storyline Falcons fans will want to follow throughout the summer.