The Atlanta Falcons are under new leadership this season, as Arthur Smith is taking over as head coach. He is coming over after being the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator, replacing Dan Quinn, who was hired as head coach in 2015 before being fired during the 2020 season.
Smith will lead the Falcons into what looks like an inevitable rebuild, as the roster has a few excellent building blocks but needs work overall.
What can we expect from Smith and the Falcons in his first season as head coach? Here are five bold predictions for the team in 2021.
5. Calvin Ridley Cements Himself Among Elite
The Atlanta Falcons moved on from the best wide receiver in franchise history, Julio Jones, this offseason. He was traded to the Tennessee Titans, which will leave some big shoes to fill on the offense. But, Atlanta has someone ready to assume the No. 1 role in Calvin Ridley.
Ridley is one of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL. He led the team in receiving last year as Jones struggled to stay on the field. He has been excellent in his three seasons with the Falcons since they selected him with the No. 26 overall pick in 2018. This year, he will break out on the national landscape.
Ridley will set a career-high with 1,400 yards, finishing in the top-three of the NFL in receiving yardage. He will also haul in 12 touchdowns and break the 100-catch mark, setting career-highs across the board.
4. Kyle Pitts Wins Offensive Rookie Of The Year
With the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected Florida tight end, Kyle Pitts. It was a bit of a surprising pick given the current state of the roster, but Pitts is someone that will have a major impact on the passing game.
Labeling him as strictly a tight end does not do his game justice. He can line up anywhere in the formation and be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Locked into a starting role from Day 1, he will have a chance to produce right away.
Pitts will have an excellent season for a Falcons’ offense that is going to have to pass the ball a lot. He will become the first tight end in NFL history to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and become a centerpiece of Atlanta’s offense.
3. Worst Rushing Offense In NFL
The Atlanta Falcons have had some prolific offenses in years past. While they will still rack up the yardage through the air, their rushing offense will be the polar opposite in 2021.
Atlanta has Mike Davis slotted into the starting role right now. He filled in admirably for Christian McCaffrey for the Carolina Panthers last season but averaged only 3.9 yards per carry. For his career, he has averaged 3.7 yards per carry, but the Falcons don’t have any established options behind him.
Qadree Ollison is his back up and he has only 23 rushes and 53 yards under his belt in two seasons in the NFL. D’Onta Foreman is the only other running back on the roster that has a career touch in the NFL.
This has the makings of what will be the worst rushing offense in the NFL, as the Falcons will struggle to generate any production on the ground in 2021.
2. Matt Ryan Makes Final Start With Falcons
Matt Ryan has been the starting quarterback since they selected him third overall in 2008. He has missed only three games in 13 seasons since then, but 2021 will be the last time that he starts a game for the Falcons.
Atlanta needs to start rebuilding, and with a new head coach at the helm, this would be a good time to do so. The Falcons could see what they have in rookie Feleipe Franks later in the season or add a player in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Whatever the case may be, Ryan will be making his final start with the organization this season. With long-time receiver Julio Jones out the door, Ryan will be next.
1. Falcons Land No. 1 Overall Pick
The Atlanta Falcons are going to have some rough patches during the 2021 season. It will result in the team landing the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Atlanta looks like they will be favored in only three games this season; Week 1 hosting the Philadelphia Eagles, possibly Week 5 in a game against the New York Jets in London and Week 16 hosting the Detroit Lions. It would not be surprising to see the Falcons as underdogs in every other game on their schedule.
Arthur Smith will experience growing pains in his first season as head coach, but the silver lining is that he will have his pick of the quarterback prospects in next year’s draft class landing the first overall pick.
