The Atlanta Falcons saw their Super Bowl hopes come up short in the divisional round in the playoffs in a loss to the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Heading into this upcoming offseason, Falcons owner Arthur Blank voiced that he believes his team needs just a few roster tweaks to get back to Super Bowl, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.
“You know, I think we're close,” Blank said when asked about his team's chances of winning the franchise's first Super Bowl, not just getting there. “Obviously, we were there last year. We got to the second round this year. We could have proceeded further, but we didn't. So, I think the team is in good shape. We have some areas that need to be improved on and worked on. And I think the coach [Dan Quinn] and [GM] Thomas [Dimitroff] are aware of those. That's why we have the draft and free agency, and we'll be focused on those.”
Aside from any possible roster changes, the Falcons' top priority is signing star quarterback Matt Ryan to a new extension. Ryan is set to enter the final year of his five-year, $103.7 million deal that will pay him $21.6 million in base salary and bonuses. The team has already expressed interest in getting this worked out in the offseason, as Blank voiced his hope to hammer out a “team-friendly” extension.
Still, the Falcons will likely give Ryan a lucrative deal that bests his previous salary on a similar length. The 32-year-old has been the centerpiece of the offense and has several highly productive seasons ahead of him. Beyond that, the Falcons are projected to have just over $12 million in salary cap space at their disposal. A few key pieces are set to hit the free agent market, including defensive tackle Dontari Poe, defensive end Adrian Clayborn, wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, and kicker Matt Bryant.
All of this should lead to some significant roster changes made to help put the team in better position to get back to the Super Bowl next season.
Follow Us
Subscribe