The Atlanta Falcons appear to have finally found an answer to the consistent pass-rushing woes, bringing in Leonard Floyd, Jalon Walker, and James Pearce Jr. in the 2025 offseason. Bralen Trice is expected to return from injury as well, giving the team four fresh options at what has been a cursed position.
Whether it was Matthew Judon or turning the clock back to Vic Beasley, Atlanta's splashy additions at the position simply haven't worked. However, there is reason to believe that this is finally changing with the young talent the Falcons have brought in.
One important piece of the past few seasons is veteran pass rusher Lorenzo Carter. The veteran struggled in the 2024 season, and Atlanta gladly turned the page. Despite signing with the Titans, Carter has decided to call it a career, retiring before ever playing a snap for his new team.
Carter walking away makes sense when you look at how the veteran was playing to end the 2024 season. The once reliable run-defender was a liability in nearly every facet of the game.
Former Falcons Pass Rusher Lorenzo Carter Calls it a Career
Lorenzo Carter is retiring and won't be joining the Titans for camp.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) July 22, 2025
Carter retires with 21.5 career sacks and a career whose most memorable moments came with the New York Giants. Arguably, the veteran could be viewed as a draft bust after being considered a potentially elite option out of Georgia.
Regardless, the veteran has lasted far longer than the average player and consistently been a viable rotational edge option. Atlanta's problem was believing Carter would thrive in a bigger role.
Opting to put the pass rusher in a struggling lineup as a possible fix is a mistake the team cannot undo. It continued Atlanta's long line of laughable misses at a key position. For the Falcons, there is no issue with Carter walking away with the organization having a great understanding of why this is the correct decision.
The former Falcon is no longer impacting the game at a level that invites many snaps. Opting to walk away from the league before being forced out allows an elite athlete the chance to leave the sport on his own terms. Not a bad decision for the former Falcon who has officially called it a career.