“I don’t know what Atlanta is doing,” said an anonymous NFL exec.
After missing the playoffs for an eighth consecutive year, the Atlanta Falcons decided to shake things up. The team moved on from head coach Raheem Morris, general manager Terry Fontenot and CEO Rich McKay immediately after the season ended, later hiring Matt Ryan to oversee things as the new president of football.
Ryan played a key role in the Falcons hiring Ian Cunningham as general manager and Kevin Stefanski as head coach. The new leadership group set out to raise the floor of the roster through the draft and free agency, but whether or not they accomplished that is up for debate.
Atlanta’s lack of salary cap space forced the team to focus on second-tier free agents, such as wide receiver Jahan Dotson and linebacker Christian Harris. Plus, the Falcons had to operate without a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Considering the circumstances, the Falcons seem genuinely happy with how they’ve fared thus far. However, some around the league aren’t exactly sure what Atlanta’s plan is. In a new piece from The Athletic‘s Mike Sando, some anonymous NFL executives were critical of the team’s offseason.
Execs generally remain skeptical of the way Atlanta, in its first season with Matt Ryan heading up football operations, is going about its business all offseason. “I don’t know what Atlanta is doing yet,” one exec said. “They have talked about raising the floor, but wouldn’t you rather bottom out or raise the ceiling?” — Mike Sando, The Athletic
Clearly, Atlanta didn’t have the resources of other teams, so it was always going to be an uphill battle. Nonetheless, second-round pick Avieon Terrell was a projected first-round selection, and fell to the Falcons at pick No. 48 overall.
While some analysts praised the team for getting value on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, some tried to call the Terrell selection a nepotism pick due to the Falcons having A.J. Terrell on the roster.
“That pick felt even more nostalgic than the Georgia rusher (Jalon Walker) in the first round last year,” an exec said. “It’s cool that (Terrell) is playing with his brother, but this isn’t like the NBA with Giannis Antetokounmpo. You have to make sure guys come in and contribute.” — Anonymous NFL exec, via The Athletic
The Falcons’ plan may not be clear to everyone, but it’s important to remember that these comments are anonymous for a reason. If someone isn’t willing to put their name on a criticism, it’s tough to take it seriously. For now, fans will have to wait to see if Atlanta can make these execs eat their words.
