What's left for the Falcons to accomplish after 2025 NFL Draft?

From the starting center to the backup quarterback, Atlanta still has some questions to answer after draft and free agency.

May 06, 2025 at 02:33 PM

Terrin Waack

Falcons Digital Team Reporter

Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.

FLOWERY BRNACH, Ga. — Between offseason acquisitions through the draft and free agency, the Atlanta Falcons have reached their 90-man roster limit for 2025. By no means, though, is it set in stone.

It is also far from the resembling the 53-man roster required for the regular season, too soon to have a starting lineup ready. That's OK. That's normal for this time of year.

Also normal is the fact the Falcons will continue to fine-tune their roster even as workouts continue and camps approach this summer. Below are three areas they should focus on.

Starting center

The Falcons have yet to announce center Ryan Neuzil's re-signing with the organization. All of the tender deadlines have passed. So, at this point, the two parties really just have to make it official.

Head coach Raheem Morris already penciled Neuzil in as the starting center, with the disclaimer competition will be brought in. Atlanta didn't do that through the draft – seventh-round pick Jack Nelson is a tackle – but it did through undrafted free agency. Offensive lineman Joshua Gray was Dane Brugler’s No. 6 center in "The Beast." Four of the five centers above him were drafted; another later in the rankings was, too. Brugler pegged Gray as a fifth- or sixth-round selection.

Otherwise, the Falcons have Jovaughn Gwyn and Matthew Cindric both rostered. They took preseason center snaps last season; none in the regular season.

There's not necessarily a timeline on Neuzil's decision, but it is an important offseason box that remains unchecked.

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Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Ford Jr. #28 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Casey Washington #82 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons director of player performance John Griffin during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons cornerback Lamar Jackson #38 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier #25 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ta'Quon Graham #95, defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98, associate director of strength and conditioning Paul Constantine, defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54, defensive lineman Kentavius Street #93, defensive lineman Junior Aho #79, defensive lineman Morgan Fox #99, defensive lineman Zach Harrison #96, edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56, and defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons cornerback Kevin King #32 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker JD Bertrand #40 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #4 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo #6 and Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #17 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons defensive back Clark Phillips III #22 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons linebacker Khalid Kareem #92, Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker DeAngelo Malone #51, and Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #17 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Chris Blair #19 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 and Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons safety Benny Sapp iii #45 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Phillip Dorsett II #16 during a workout during the offseason program at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)

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Backup quarterback

The possibility Kirk Cousins may remain in Atlanta through the Falcons' offseason program and into training camp needs to be accepted. Externally, that is. It has been internally.

Morris, general manager Terry Fontenot and team owner Arthur Blank have repeatedly said they're comfortable with this outcome, one that goes as far as Cousins being Michael Penix Jr.'s backup during the season. Assistant general manager Kyle Smith, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and quarterbacks coach TJ Yates expressed the same while speaking with media in recent weeks. All have praised Cousins' professionalism throughout the situation, including his attendance for voluntary workouts, but they are moving forward on the same page.

That Cousins has handled this in a professional manner shouldn't come as a surprise. Cousins is 36 years old and has been in the NFL since 2012. When the Falcons benched the veteran in favor of the rookie last season, Cousins held a press conference to address the matter and comported himself well. The way he handled the backup role during Atlanta's final three games has also been praised after the season.

Unless something happens with the quarterback market in the NFL, the probability Cousins is still in Atlanta come September grows.

Defensive depth

The Falcons addressed their major defensive needs through free agency, the draft and undrafted free agency. They beefed up the front with Leonard Floyd, Morgan Fox, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. They did the same with the secondary in Jordan Fuller, Xavier Watts, Billy Bowman Jr. and Cobee Bryant.

Now comes the tricky part of incorporating the newcomers with the returners and figuring out not only the starting lineup but also the key rotation pieces. Not everyone is going to take the field at the same time. It'll be up to the Falcons' new defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich, and his coaching staff to figure out the best packages.

Defensive line coach Nate Ollie, outside linebackers coach Jacquies Smith and defensive assistant John Timu have been working specifically on the Falcons' pass-rush attack. They've decided, for example, Walker will focus his training as an edge rusher to begin with.

Assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray, defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg and secondary coach Justin Hood are tasked with organizing the back end. They've determined, as another example, Bowman will play at nickel rather than safety, like he primarily did in college.

Clearly, the Falcons have a lot of pieces available to them. Now, it's time to build the puzzle.

What's left for the Falcons to accomplish after 2025 NFL Draft?

From the starting center to the backup quarterback, Atlanta still has some questions to answer after draft and free agency.

Starting center

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Offseason Workouts: Phase One - Workout | 04.29.25

Backup quarterback

Defensive depth

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