Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Safeties & Special Teams

We’ve reached the end of the offseason overhaul series! For the sake of this article, I’ll be including some special teams players as we round out the roster. Safety is a sore spot for the Falcons, but I saved up some cap space for this position specifically. We have a couple more spots left to fill, so let’s get to work. All figures are via Over The Cap.

If you want to check out my articles from my previous offseason series, One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, and One Trade — those will be linked below:

• Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Quarterback
• Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Running Backs
• Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Wide Receivers
• Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Tight Ends
• Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Offensive Line
• Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Edge Rushers
• Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Defensive Line
• Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Cornerbacks
• Falcons 2023 Offseason: One Free Agent, One Draft Pick, One Trade — Safeties

Previous Editions of this series are listed below:

• Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Quarterback
• Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Running Back
• Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Wide Receiver
• Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Tight End
• Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Offensive Line
• Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Defensive Line
• Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: EDGE
• Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Linebacker
• Falcons 2023 Offseason Overhaul: Cornerback

Current Roster:

S Richie Grant

S Jaylinn Hawkins

This duo had a lot of expectations going into the 2022 season, and they often fell short. No worries, I have a pretty big plan to help this rotation out.

Sign Kareem Jackson

The veteran Jackson is about to turn 35, but he can provide a lot of valuable insight to the younger players in this Falcons secondary. He also shouldn’t be too expensive, and trust me, the next guy is. I’d like someone like Jackson on a one-year deal to help stabilized the back end of Atlanta’s defense.

Kareem Jackson signs a one-year, $2 million deal.

Sign Jessie Bates III

My last free agent move is a big one. At 26 years old, Jessie Bates is the perfect target for the Falcons. He may be my top target overall. Bates is one of the best safeties in the NFL, and it appears he and the Bengals will not reach a deal before he hits free agency. He was franchise tagged this season, so he’s looking for some security. The Falcons can offer him that. Bates is a versatile piece that can play all over the field and transform a defense. Tarvarius Moore out of San Francisco is another sneaky low-cost option who can play a lot of positions, something that should appeal to the Falcons. Taylor Rapp and Jabrill Peppers make sense as well. Bates is looking for a long-term deal, and I’ll give him one.

Jessie Bates signs for four years, $32 million

Overhauled Safety Roster:

S Jessie Bates III

S Kareem Jackson

S Richie Grant

S Jaylinn Hawkins

One man was all it took, in this exercise, we have addressed a ton of issues that have plagued the Falcons for a while. I just wanted to have some fun with it, as this is pretty unrealistic, but could give you an idea of how the Falcons might move if they get aggressive.

Final Roster: 53

QB Desmond Ridder

QB Taylor Heinicke

RB Tyler Allgeier

RB Cordarrelle Patterson

RB Justin Jackson 

RB Avery Williams

RB Caleb Huntley

WR Drake London

WR Allen Lazard

WR Ronnie Bell

WR Olamide Zaccheaus

WR Frank Darby

TE Kyle Pitts

TE Darnell Washington

TE MyCole Pruitt

TE Parker Hesse

OL Jake Matthews

OL Nate Davis

OL Drew Dalman

OL Chris Lindstrom

OL Kaleb McGary

OL Elijah Wilkinson

OL Matt Hennessy

OL Jarrett Patterson

OL Ryan Neuzil

DL Grady Jarrett

DL Javon Hargrave

DL Ta’Quon Graham

DL Abdullah Anderson

DL Byron Young

EDGE Lorenzo Carter

EDGE Arnold Ebiketie

EDGE DeAngelo Malone

EDGE Zach Harrison

EDGE Dylan Horton

EDGE Ade Ogundeji

LB David Long

LB Mykal Walker

LB Troy Andersen

LB Nick Herbig

CB AJ Terrell

CB Devon Witherspoon

CB Darren Hall

CB Casey Hayward

CB Greedy Williams

CB Dee Alford

S Jessie Bates III

S Kareem Jackson

S Richie Grant

S Jaylinn Hawkins

K Younghoe Koo

P Bryce Baringer (Drafted Round 7, Pick 226)

LS Liam McCullough

2023 Cap Space Allotted: $86 Million

Quarterback: -$6 million

Running Back: $900k

Wide Receiver: $19.5 million

Tight End: $1.9 million

Offensive Line: $27.5 million

Defensive Line: $12.2 million

EDGE: $5 million

Linebacker: $7 million

Cornerback: $8 million

Safety: $10 million