The Atlanta Falcons have had a roller coaster of an offseason. After hiring Arthur Smith as the head coach, the team traded Julio Jones away to the Tennessee Titans. Atlanta is clearly under a new regime now and they hope it's for the better. This is a franchise that was just in a Super Bowl in 2017, so some key adjustments could get them back into the playoffs.
The offense should look solid throughout the 2021 regular season. Matt Ryan is still the starting quarterback and the front office brought in Kyle Pitts as Julio Jones' replacement. Additionally, Calvin Ridley aims to compete as one of the top receivers in the game, which bodes well for the Falcons' chances this year. The defense is a bit worrisome, but there will be position battles for depth roles to help generate the best group possible.
Atlanta will have to eventually cut their roster down to 53 players, but a handful could be leaving sooner, rather than later. The Falcons are deep at the defensive line and tight end groups, so we're bound to see some departures from those positions. This franchise will have a unique position battle for the starting punter position, as the team only needs one on the roster. With that said, here are three cut candidates on the Falcons roster bubble heading into training camp.
Jonathan Bullard
Entering the sixth season of his career, Jonathan Bullard hopes to earn a spot on the Falcons' final roster. However, Atlanta has a ton of players competing in that p0sition group, which doesn't bode well for Bullard's chances. Bullard has been mediocre throughout his career, as he's racked up 92 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
The Falcons currently have 18 defensive linemen on the team. That's a ton of competition for Bullard to compete with. The coaching staff is more likely to choose someone with a better track record, or take a chance with a younger player with potential. We'll see how it plays out, but the odds are stacked against Jonathan Bullard.
Jaeden Graham
It's obvious the top two tight ends on the Falcons are Kyle Pitts and Hayden Hurst. The third spot likely belongs to Lee Smith, leaving Jaeden Graham, Ryan Becker, and Parker Hesse to battle it out for the fourth spot amongst the tight-end group. Arthur Smith is very familiar with this position and tends to get creative with his tight ends. Each guy will have a specific role on the offense, but Graham could be the odd man out.
Kyle Pitts will play more like a receiver, Hurst should excel as the immediate backup as a blocker and pass catcher, while Smith can be an extra blocker in certain schemes. The fourth spot will likely be someone who is a great blocking tight end with the potential to earn targets in the passing game. Based on Graham's first two years, he doesn't pose much of a threat in the passing game, nor is he a phenomenal blocker. Look for Jaeden Graham to possibly be cut early on in training camp.
Dom Maggio
The Falcons signed Dom Maggio to a one-year deal this offseason to give Sterling Hofrichter some competition in training camp. Hofrichter is likely to keep his job, as he isn't a bad punter by any means. We'll see how it plays out, but Maggio is not favored to win the starting punter job.
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