The Atlanta Falcons went through sweeping changes in the offseason. Entering free agency in one of the worst financial situations of any team in the NFL, the Falcons had to make difficult decisions. As a result, longtime fan favorite Grady Jarrett was released, and key contributors like Lorenzo Carter and Ritchie Grant left, while Matt Judon, Justin Simmons, and Dee Alford remain unsigned.
This exodus on the defensive side of the ball signals more changes are coming. The Falcons already brought in Leonard Floyd, Jordan Fuller, and Divine Deablo to bolster the defensive unit, but they need more reinforcements, considering how poor of a defensive team they were last season.
In fact, owner Arthur Blank has made it clear that he will be looking for more defensive upgrades in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank: "Pretty obvious to everybody" that Atlanta will emphasize defense in the 2025 NFL draft.https://t.co/PNGi5oVtNX
— Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) April 6, 2025
NFL Draft: Arthur Blank Wants the Falcons Focusing on Defense
Speaking at the NFL owners meeting in Florida last week, Blank went public with what he wants GM Terry Fontenot to do in the draft. Saying that it's "pretty obvious to everybody" that the Falcons need to improve defensively, Blank emphasized his desire to use their draft capital on the defensive unit.
This is a surprising development, as Blank has generally been quiet and patient about roster construction. After years and years of poor defensive production, however, he may be finally taking matters into his own hands.
Since Fontenot took over in 2021, the Falcons never had an above-average defense. In fact, they had a bottom-ten defense in three of the four seasons since. It has been seven seasons since the Falcons had an above-average defense in terms of points allowed.
The problem for the Falcons is the fact that they only have five picks in the draft, and two of them are in Round 7. They need to add an elite pass rusher and a solid defensive lineman, but whether they will be able to do that with only three picks in the first six rounds of the draft remains to be seen. In the same presser, Blank teased potential deals to add more picks. Fontenot will certainly feel the pressure heading into the draft to follow the clear instructions of the owner.