The Falcons should be refreshed coming off a Week 5 bye. But as they turn their attention to the Bills, hoping to get back on the right side of .500, they are not without concerns.
Statistically, the defense ranks among the NFLâs best in several major categories. However, there remain issues to address in the secondary, especially in wake of A.J. Terrellâs injury.
As such, one Falcons writer believes the team will need to proactively address that part of the roster in order to contend this season. Garrett Klaus of Blogging Dirty suggests several moves the Falcons could make over the next month leading up to the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
âThrough the first month of the season, Atlantaâs secondary has gone from shaky to flat-out concerning, and with star corner A.J. Terrell still sidelined,â Klaus writes, âthe cracks have become impossible to ignore.â
4-Time Pro Bowler Mentioned as Potential Target for Falcons
Veteran cornerback Dee Alford noticeably struggled in a Week 4 win over the Commanders, allowing four receptions on five targets. He was also called for two penalties. Through four games, heâs one of the lowest-rated cornerbacks in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus (PFF), ranking 160th out of 169 eligible players.
As Klaus notes, incumbent No. 1 cornerback Mike Hughes hasnât been much better. Without Terrell, the Falcons will need more proven contributors to keep pace with the Buccaneers atop the NFC South.
With that in mind, Klaus suggests several players the Falcons can target: Alontae Taylor (Saints), Cam Taylor-Britt (Bengals), Denzel Ward (Browns), LâJarius Sneed (Titans) and Eric Stokes (Raiders).
âEach of these corners comes with a different price tag and level of risk,â Klaus writes, âbut any would represent a clear upgrade over Atlantaâs current depth chart. The Falcons are in the mix for the NFC South crown, but their margin for error isnât large. â¦
âThe bye week is the perfect time for Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot to reassess the roster and weigh the cost of any potential roster shakeup.
âRegardless, itâs clear this isnât a minor issue anymore. Atlantaâs secondary is the one thing standing between âplayoff contenderâ and âmissed opportunity.â The clock is ticking before the trade deadline.â
Terrell Targeting Return After Bye
Atlanta ranks first in the NFL in total defense with 244 yards allowed per game and 15th in scoring defense with 21.5 points allowed per game. Head coach Raheem Morris is hoping to have Terrell back from a hamstring injury following the bye, but depth may still be needed with rookies Billy Bowman Jr. and Xavier Watts still adjusting to life in the NFL.
Among the most proven options listed by Klaus are Ward, a four-time Pro Bowler on a hefty contract, and Sneed, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Chiefs.
The Falcons will certainly get tested Monday (7:15 p.m. ET) against the Billsâ third-ranked offense.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Falcons Predicted to Make Move to Upgrade Cornerback Position appeared first on Heavy Sports.