Spending money doesn’t always translate to success in the NFL, but when you’ve been without salary cap space for as long as the Atlanta Falcons have, it sure feels like an improvement.
Following two consecutive 7-10 seasons, the team is determined to make the leap to the postseason in Year 3 of the Arthur Smith era. The Falcons upgraded their secondary and defensive line in free agency, while locking up two key offensive linemen and adding running back Bijan Robinson in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Did Atlanta do enough over the course of the offseason to end its five-year playoff drought? ESPN doesn’t seem to think so. In Bill Barnwell’s 2023 NFL offseason rankings, the Falcons came in at No. 26:
If the Falcons addressed their biggest defensive issues, then what’s the problem? Barnwell cites short-sighted signings and the inexperience of quarterback Desmond Ridder as his primary issues with the team:
A lack of faith in Ridder is a common theme among those NFL analysts doubting the Falcons in 2023. While it’s not unreasonable to take a wait-and-see approach when it comes to Ridder, Arthur Smith has a lot riding on this season and he clearly sees something in the young signal-caller.
The 2023 NFL season officially kicks off in 100 days.
Today marks 100 days until the start of the 2023 NFL regular season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 30, 2023