FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Pack up the stopwatches. Put away the weights. The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is over, and the start of the new league year is just a week away.
This offseason likely won't be as eventful for the Falcons as last year's. They are in much better shape at the quarterback position, but their financial situation is going to be difficult to maneuver. Atlanta also has a limited number of draft picks, and general manager Terry Fontenot has mentioned moving down as an option to gain more picks.
Each move will need to be well thought out, and we will be covering everything along the way. With free agency starting first, make sure you've got our Free Agency Tracker bookmarked. We will be updating that story with every report, confirmed announcement and piece of analysis throughout free agency.
Until then, let's get to your questions!
Barry W from Rex, Ga.
"Will Terry Fontenot abandon the best player available mantra? The defense has real holes and if Fontenot does not upgrade the defense this will be his last year."
Will: I picked this question to start with because it's a good opportunity to clarify what I've heard recently from Fontenot on this front.
The term "best player available" is obviously a helpful way to think about this approach, but I don't know if it should be taken as literally as it has been. I went back to listen to Fontenot's introductory press conference back in January of 2021, and here's the exact phrase he used when describing his best-player philosophy.
"We never want to reach for needs."
That isn't the exact same as saying the Falcons will take the player at the top of their draft board every single time without a second thought. Oftentimes these boards are set up in tiers, so there may be multiple players with identical or near-identical grades in the same group when a team is on the clock. In that scenario, the position may become a factor. Or it may not. I don't have the secret recipe to the Falcons' draft approach and each team is different.
But not reaching for a need simply means a team won't pick a player with a lower draft grade or in a lower tier solely because of the position he plays.
"When I say best player available for us, we're talking about not reaching for needs, Fontenot said at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. Want to take impact players off the board, and so you want to make sure you do that."
The strong consensus about this year's draft is that the defensive talent is superior. There are better top-end prospects on defense, and it's a deep class with starting options expected to be available well into Day 2. Atlanta's scouts and front office considered all of this when they created their initial draft board before the combine began.
Fontenot and his staff are well aware of what the roster's strengths and weaknesses are, and they will strive to fill needs as they can. But he's stated they won't pass up a player they believe is better just because they need a certain position. In this draft class, though, the best players line up with the team's needs quite nicely.
Michael S from Calgary
"Is it even worth it to trade Kyle Pitts at his current value? I think, at this point, you just ride it out rather than getting a fourth-round pick."
Will: A fourth-round pick might not even be what Atlanta would get in return. Not after Deebo Samuel was reportedly traded to the Commanders for a fifth-round pick. I know Samuel's contract is much bigger than what Pitts' in 2025, which may have lessened the pick value, but Samuel's track record of production is more substantial and that only amounted to a fifth-round slot.
So, I agree with you, Michael. I'd like to see what Pitts can do in a second year with this offense. Sure, he'll likely have yet another starting quarterback to build a rapport with, but Michael Penix Jr. seems excited to work with him. The pressure should also truly be off of Pitts in 2025, and he can play off of his offensive teammates instead of acting as a focal point.
We saw Pitts' unique athleticism on display in fits and starts last year. When it clicked, great things happened for Atlanta's offense. Who knows if it will ever truly work out here with the Falcons, but I'd like to see them give it one more try.
Brodie F from Richmondville, N.Y.
"Think this is realistic? Myles Garrett - this year's & next year's 1st rounder, 3rd & 4th next year (if necessary) & we land an instant, proven, transformative BEAST. Huge amount of draft capital to part w/ but Myles makes us dangerous. Established talent over rookies. Much Love!"
Will: I don't think you're too far off from your hypothetical trade offer here, Brodie. Bill Barnwell had a good breakdown on ESPN of the possible financial scenarios with any Myles Garrett trade, and he felt two first-round picks in an offer was not out of the question. But that's a lot of draft capital.
The draft doesn't just give teams an opportunity to add the best young talent coming out of college to their roster. It gives them the opportunity to do so cheaply. To make a trade like this would mean sacrificing some amount of salary cap flexibility and becoming more of a finished product for the short-term future. Are you confident the Falcons are just one pass rusher away from winning the Super Bowl?
Perhaps they are. And Garrett isn't just any typical pass rusher, either. I completely believe this type of move would put the Falcons back in the playoffs, but I don't know if the cost you've laid out is worth it for me, personally. But, more importantly, I don't think the Browns are trading Garrett.
Thank you all for today's questions! If I didn't get to yours today, it may be selected in future editions of The Mailbox. If you'd like to submit a question for a future mailbag, you may do so here.
