As the NFL offseason continues, Atlanta Falcons fans are hoping that general manager Terry Fontenot's moves will pay off come September. The Falcons haven't been shy to throw around money this spring, having added the likes of linebacker Divine Deablo and pass rusher Leonard Floyd while re-signing veterans like cornerback Mike Hughes since free agency opened last month.
While some of the Falcons' signings addressed pressing needs and glaring holes, others put pressure on returning veterans who underperformed in 2024. That includes a certain Atlanta pass-catcher, who'll be fighting for his job this summer following the team's offseason moves.
Falcons TE Charlie Woerner's Job Isn't Safe After Offseason Moves
The Falcons' tight end room is often a hot topic for discussion due to Kyle Pitts' uncertain future heading into the final year of his rookie contract. Having said that, Pitts isn't the only TE who could leave Atlanta soon.
After all, Charlie Woerner's 2024 performance doesn't exactly guarantee him a spot on head coach Raheem Morris' 53-man roster. After signing a three-year, $12 million contract with the Falcons, Woerner didn't make much of an offensive impact as he finished the year with seven catches on 12 targets (58.3%) for 46 receiving yards without a touchdown.
Woerner primarily operated in a blocking role, so he was never expected to dominate offensively. Having said that, his 47.9 receiving and 58.9 offensive grades on Pro Football Focus can't be ignored, especially if the Falcons want to rely on him for the occasional passing play.
Woerner's future in Atlanta is even less certain after the Falcons signed fellow TEs Feleipe Franks and Teagan Quitoriano in free agency.
Franks, 27, is a former quarterback-turned-tight-end who was previously with the Falcons from 2021 to 2023. The ex-Arkansas Razorback could challenge Woerner for the primary blocking TE job after recording 66.7 run block and 70.6 pass protection grades in a limited role with the rival Carolina Panthers last season.
Meanwhile, Quitoriano is heading into his fourth NFL season after tallying nine catches for 146 yards and two TDs across 23 games with the Houston Texans. He's far from the best blocker, however, the former Oregon State TE could steal opportunities away from Woerner due to the former's superior offensive skills.
With two years and over $12.2 million in cash remaining on his contract, Woerner must find a way to prove his worth to the Falcons before it's too late. Otherwise, he might not make it to Year 2 of his deal in Atlanta.