week

season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/1-obvious-atlanta-falcons-trade-candidate-2025-training-camp');   ga('set', 'title', '1 obvious Atlanta Falcons trade candidate entering 2025 training camp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-obvious-Atlanta-Falcons-trade-candidate-entering-2025-training-camp.jpg"></figure><h1>1 obvious Atlanta Falcons trade candidate entering 2025 training camp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-26T15:35:14-07:00">June 26th, 3:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-26T15:35:14-07:00">June 26th, 3:35pm</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-news-benches-kirk-cousins-favor-of-michael-penix-jr">benching Kirk Cousins for Michael Penix Jr.</a> late in the 2024 season, the Atlanta Falcons’ 2025 offseason has been coated in trade rumors. While Cousins stuck with the team through the draft, he remains the Falcons’ top trade candidate entering training camp.</p><p>Cousins has been a trade candidate since the Falcons benched him in Week 16 of the 2024 season. General manager Terry Fontenot has attempted to move him multiple times since then, but, unsurprisingly, no team has been willing to take on the 36-year-old’s massive contract. Cousins is <a href="https://overthecap.com/player/kirk-cousins/1443" rel="noopener">owed nearly $120 million</a> over the next three seasons.</p><p>Cousins still has some left in the tank, but is the unfortunate victim of one of the strangest quarterback situations in recent memory. He turned heads by signing a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons in 2024, despite coming off a season-ending Achilles injury. However, less than two months after breaking the bank on Cousins, Atlanta drafted Penix with the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The series of head-scratching moves led to their current inevitable conundrum.</p><p>Trading the veteran has proven difficult, but the Falcons continue to make calls. While Atlanta has come around to the idea of keeping Cousins as an expensive backup, Fontenot will never officially close the door on a potential trade. Once training camps and the preseason near, the right opportunity might present itself as quarterback-needy teams become more desperate.</p><p>Barring an injury, Cousins will never get the full-time starting gig back. Atlanta is committed to Penix and will stick with the southpaw, even through his struggles and growing pains. However, with Cousins still viewed as a potential starter around the league, he remains the Falcons’ top trade candidate entering 2025 training camp.</p><h2><b>Kirk Cousins is Falcons’ top trade candidate</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kirk-Cousins-jogging.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As absurd as his contract is, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-rumors-kirk-cousins-trade-buzz-increasing-free-agency">Cousins continues to generate trade buzz</a> on a regular basis. While it seemed like the 2025 NFL Draft was his best chance of finding a new team, both Cousins and the Falcons might need to exercise patience in hopes of a future deal.</p><p>Nothing is guaranteed, but Cousins is almost certainly not going to regain the starting role. The gunslinger threw just one touchdown in his final five weeks as the starter while tossing nine interceptions. His rough stretch included a brutal four-game stretch without a single touchdown, leading to an abysmal 0:8 touchdown-interception ratio from Weeks 10 to 14.</p><p>Turnovers have always been an issue for Cousins, but they reached an all-time high in 2024. The 13-year veteran threw a career-high 16 interceptions on the year, despite playing just 14 games. He led the Falcons on a disastrous 1-4 stretch — including a pair of blowout losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos — in his final month as the starter.</p><p>With the Penix era fully underway, the Falcons seem to be trending toward moving on from Cousins. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-add-veteran-quarterback-amid-kirk-cousins-trade-rumors">Atlanta signed longtime Los Angeles Chargers backup Easton Stick</a> in free agency, suggesting it is ready for the next chapter. The team also has former undrafted free agent Emory Jones on the roster as a potential practice squad signee.</p><p>If the Falcons release Cousins, he would quickly get scooped up by one of the many teams in need of his veteran services. Yet, the process is much easier said than done, given Atlanta’s already tight cap situation. Fontenot briefly flirted with the idea early in the offseason before quickly realizing the numerous issues the move would create.</p><h2><b>Kirk Cousins’ most likely landing spots</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Kirk-Cousins-makes-warms-up-before-game.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Unfortunately for Cousins, his trade market dried up once the initial wave of free agency ended. Cousins benefited most from the lack of starting-caliber quarterbacks available in the market, but that initial window has closed. However, with training camps on deck, the Falcons can still potentially make a deal with the proper suitor.</p><p>The New Orleans Saints stand out as the team most likely to need a quarterback. Following Derek Carr’s sudden retirement, the Saints are limited to rookie Tyler Shough and second-year players Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. New Orleans seems content with starting Shough for now, but once the rookie officially takes the field, that notion could quickly change. Either way, the team could certainly use a veteran signal-caller in the locker room, even as a backup.</p><p>With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/colts-news-anthony-richardson-timetable-return-shoulder-injury">injury concerns regarding Anthony Richardson</a>, the Indianapolis Colts also emerged as a potential candidate. The Colts have Daniel Jones as a secondary option, but given his shaky history with the New York Giants, they might look to add another veteran like Cousins.</p><p>Several other teams, including the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals, could emerge as dark-horse candidates. However, given Cousins’ salary, any potential deal would likely involve three or more teams and a series of contractual agreements to make numbers work.</p><p>Ahead of training camp, an in-season trade still seems most optimal for Cousins and the Falcons in 2025. Once a contending team suffers a devastating injury, the 36-year-old’s contract might not seem like such a bad idea. The overwhelmingly likely scenario is Cousins sticking with Atlanta as Penix’s backup, but if Fontenot makes any further moves, it will likely involve removing the biggest liability from his roster.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 obvious Atlanta Falcons trade candidate entering 2025 training camp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/entertainment/netflix-quarterback-season-2-trailer-joe-burrow');   ga('set', 'title', 'Netflix’s Quarterback Season 2 trailer highlights Joe Burrow’s epic heroics');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Joe-Burrow-throwing-a-pass.jpg"><figcaption>Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Netflix’s Quarterback Season 2 trailer highlights Joe Burrow’s epic heroics</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-24T08:43:09-07:00">June 24th, 8:43am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-24T08:43:09-07:00">June 24th, 8:43am</time><address><a>Andrew Korpan</a>Andrew Korpan is the lead entertainment editor and film critic for ClutchPoints. He's also an award-winning author and Ken Jeong's best friend.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A trailer is finally here for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/nfl-news-netflix-drops-teaser-video-quarterback-series-featuring-patrick-mahomes-kirk-cousins">Netflix’s Quarterback Season 2</a>, which will be headlined by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/entertainment/netflix-joe-burrow-jared-goff-kirk-cousins-return-quarterback-series">Joe Burrow, Jared Goff, and Kirk Cousins</a>. It promises more behind-the-scenes access and lots of on-field highlights.</p><p>Of course, Cousins is the first signal-caller to return for a second season. He previously headlined the first season, which also featured <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-news-teams-bold-patrick-mahomes-post-will-fire-fans-up">Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes</a> and Marcus Mariota.</p><p>Burrow and Goff will appear on the show for the first time. They are featured heavily in the first trailer, which we will break down completely.</p><h2><b>Joe Burrow faces quarterback mortality</b></h2><p>Burrow, who is heading into his sixth season in the league, opens the trailer by discussing a quarterback’s longevity. He knows you don’t play forever, and his first few years flew by.</p><p>“You only have so many of these seasons. [When] you start out your career, you’re like, ‘I’m gonna be playing for 15, 20 years.’ It seems like a lot,” Burrow explains, “And then you blink your eye, and you’re in year five. Next time I blink, it’s gonna be year 10. Now, where [are we] at? The great ones make it work.”</p><p>His fifth year in the league may have been his best. Burrow led all quarterbacks in the NFL with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns. It was a major turnaround from his injury-riddled 2023 campaign. Despite his best efforts, Burrow and the Bengals missed the playoffs, even after winning their last five games.</p><p>Heading into his sixth year, Burrow hopes to get over the hump and win a Lombardi Trophy. He has been to one Super Bowl, but we are now three years removed from that.</p><h2><b>Jared Goff’s redemption arc</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Frank-Ragnow-on-Jan.-28-2024.jpg"><figcaption>© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Many wrote off Goff when he was traded to the Detroit Lions in 2021. Matthew Stafford immediately won a Super Bowl with Goff’s former team, adding to the narrative.</p><p>“A lot of people in my former organization may have thought I was being cast away,” says Goff, “But I saw the opportunity I had here [in Detroit] was special.”</p><p>In four years with the Lions, Goff has made two Pro Bowls, and they are coming off a 15-2 season in 2024. Goff had a career year, throwing the second-most passing yards in the league behind Burrow (4,629) and the fourth-most touchdowns (37).</p><p>Meanwhile, Cousins’ 2024 struggles will also be shown. He joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 but was benched late in the year. Cousins threw a career-high 16 interceptions in 14 games, which was the most in the NFL at the time. Baker Mayfield would end up tying him, but he also threw 41 touchdowns to go along with his 16 interceptions.</p><h2><b>When does Quarterback Season 2 premiere on Netflix?</b></h2><p>The upcoming second season of Quarterback will premiere on Netflix on July 8. Presumably, all of the episodes will be available to stream on that day.</p><p>Previously, the first season of the series premiered on July 12, 2023. All eight episodes were made available on July 12. They were directed by the trio of Matt Dissinger, Shannon Furman, and Tim Rumpff.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><p>Quarterback Season 2 will premiere on July 8 on Netflix.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Netflix’s Quarterback Season 2 trailer highlights Joe Burrow’s epic heroics

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/1-perfect-falcons-move-to-fill-roster-2025-training-camp');   ga('set', 'title', '1 perfect Falcons move to fill out roster before 2025 training camp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1-perfect-Atlanta-Falcons-move-to-fill-out-roster-before-2025-training-camp.jpg"></figure><h1>1 perfect Falcons move to fill out roster before 2025 training camp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-24T07:22:15-07:00">June 24th, 7:22am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-24T07:22:15-07:00">June 24th, 7:22am</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-michael-penix-jr-massive-endorsement-robert-griffin-iii">Atlanta Falcons are hoping for</a> a big season from Michael Penix Jr., and an additional <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/atlanta-falcons-sleepers-could-break-out-2025-nfl-season">lift from a few underrated players</a> could also help. Furthermore, here is one perfect Falcons move to fill out the roster before the team’s 2025 training camp.</p><p>Atlanta will practice at IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch, Georgia, with rookies and veterans both reporting on July 23.</p><p>The Falcons did a nice job reshaping their defense for the upcoming season with a strong draft. But they still have one area that could be better.</p><h2><b>Falcons should sign CB Rasul Douglas</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Free-agent-cornerback-Rasul-Douglas.jpg"><figcaption>Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Falcons drafted a linebacker, an edge rusher, and two safeties among their five picks. But one area the team didn’t address was the cornerback position.</p><p>However, they did get undrafted free agent Cobee Bryant. That could help them, but there’s also a reason he didn’t get selected by other cornerback-needy teams. Head coach Raheem Morris <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/falcons/news/atlanta-falcons-raheem-morris-big-expectations-undrafted-rookie-cobee-bryant" rel="noopener">is high on</a> Bryant, according to Sports Illustrated.</p><p>“Cobee is the most famous undrafted player I’ve ever been around,” said Morris ahead of rookie mini-camp. “I mean, my kids know him. It’s unbelievable, all the stuff that he has and the accolades. But, when you go back and watch the tape, you’re not shocked that he’s well known. The amount of players that he’s played against and the guys that he’s able to compete against when you watch his tape is exciting.”</p><p>However, the Falcons should add a veteran like Douglas to help bring Bryant along and not expect too much from the rookie in 2025. Douglas is a former third-round pick and an eight-year veteran. He doesn’t have any Pro Bowls on his resume, but he started 15 games for the Bills last season.</p><h2><b>Raheem Morris’ background a plus to lure Rasul Douglas</b></h2><p>Morris’ background helped the Falcons attract Bryant, and it might allow the team to reel in Douglas.</p><p>“It’s the reason you’re able to get a guy like Cobee,” said Morris. “We didn’t take an outside corner in the draft. There’s a guy that you can go and sit down and talk with and really talk about it, convince him to come in here, having a great opportunity to go out there and compete and be the best version of himself.</p><p>“We were fortunate enough to be able to bring him here on a 30 visit and to get a chance to meet with him and get around him and really find some real interest and be able to grow. Then, when it came down to that – let’s call it what it is, the recruiting process – I had a real clear vision and was able to really speak to him in a real clear fashion because I had watched the tape. I’d been around him. I knew what he can do. I knew what he was capable of. Whoever we were competing with basically didn’t have a chance.”</p><p>Douglas recently <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article307405651.html" rel="noopener">seemed to rule out</a> a return to his former team, the Green Bay Packers. Also, he reportedly turned down an offer from the Dolphins, according to the Miami Herald.</p><p>“The Dolphins have maintained contact with Bills free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas, who rejected a Miami offer in May,” Barry Jackson wrote. “He remains a possibility.”</p><h2><b>Other teams could be chasing Rasul Douglas</b></h2><p>Also, the Bengals <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article307405651.html" rel="noopener">could be in</a> the mix, according to bleacherreport.com.</p><p>“With great play strength, strong ball skills and a 6-foot-2, 209-pound frame, Douglas is a big perimeter corner who can out-position receivers and create takeaways in bunches,” Kristopher Knox wrote. “Between 2021 and 2023, he logged 14 interceptions and 40 pass breakups.</p><p>“Douglas would be a solid fit for the Cincinnati Bengals, who could pair him with Cam Taylor-Britt to create a physical and formidable duo on the outside. Cincinnati ranked 21st in passing yards allowed last season and did nothing to improve its cornerback room in free agency or the draft.”</p><p>That makes sense, but the Falcons also made the mention list for Knox.</p><p>“The Atlanta Falcons also should take a look at Douglas, especially if he can be had at a bargain price,” Knox wrote. “Atlanta ranked 22nd in passing yards allowed last season, and assistant head coach Jerry Gray previously spent time with Douglas as the Packers’ defensive backs coach.”</p><p>The key thing is the Falcons went so hard toward their defense in the draft. It seems they said the offense had everything it needed, and adding the right pieces to the defense would make the team a serious contender for the playoffs. And noise if the Falcons get there.</p><p>So the Falcons shouldn’t let their cornerback situation hold them back. They are OK with A.J.. Terrell on the left side, but the remaining bunch might not be good enough. Mike Hughes, Keith Taylor Jr., Clark Phillips III, Natrone Brooks, Mike Ford Jr., and Bryant don’t throw fear into opposing NFL offenses.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 perfect Falcons move to fill out roster before 2025 training camp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/2-hottest-falcons-takes-coming-out-of-2025-minicamp');   ga('set', 'title', '2 hottest Falcons takes coming out of 2025 minicamp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-hottest-Atlanta-Falcons-takes-coming-out-of-2025-minicamp.jpg"></figure><h1>2 hottest Falcons takes coming out of 2025 minicamp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-20T08:42:13-07:00">June 20th, 8:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-20T08:42:13-07:00">June 20th, 8:42am</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Things are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-michael-penix-jr-massive-endorsement-robert-griffin-iii">settled for the Atlanta Falcons</a> at the quarterback position with Michael Penix Jr. getting a big endorsement and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/kirk-cousins-trade-talks-in-cold-water-after-aaron-rodgers-deal">Kirk Cousins likely sticking around</a>. And here are the two hottest takes coming out of the Falcons’ 2025 minicamp.</p><p>The biggest spotlight comes from a pair of first-round picks. The Falcons need Jalon Walker to make a splash because they spent a high pick on him at No. 15 overall. But even more importantly, the team needs James Pearce Jr. to come through because of the draft capital it expended to move up and take him at No. 26.</p><h2><b>Falcons believe in edge rusher James Pearce Jr.</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Atlanta-Falcons-edge-rusher-James-Pearce-Jr_3da7b4.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Falcons gave up their 2026 first-round pick as well as their second- and seventh-round picks in this year’s draft. The shocking move means the Falcons will need to have a lot of faith in Pearce developing into a defensive force quickly.</p><p>General manager Terry Fontenot said the Falcons dove in <a href="https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-pass-rush-conviction-james-pearce-jr" rel="noopener">with the bold move</a>, according to atlantafalcons.com.</p><p>“You know, with trades it always gets to that point where you have to weigh out what you’re actually doing and what you’re doing it for,” Fontenot said. “We look at the trade charts and all that stuff, but at some point, you have to look at who’s the player and what’s going to be. What are we really getting, and is it worth it? That’s what you really have to do at some point. When you have that kind of conviction and belief in the player, then that’s when you’re willing to do it — and we do.”</p><p>Speed? Pearce has it. Size? Check. Length? That, too. So the measurables are there. But that doesn’t always make a great NFL player. Still, Falcons defensive coordinator said Pearce compared favorably with Abdul Carter, who went to the Giants at No. 3 overall.</p><p>“If you looked at the best rushers in this draft, you could have made a case that he was the best one from a pure edge element,” Ulbrich said. “So, we had conviction in that. We did a lot of work with him on the field and off the field, and felt great about the man that he is and the player that he is.”</p><p>Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith added, “What you’re going to see is speed. I mean, there is juice in his body and twitch and explosion instinct.”</p><h2><b>LB Divine Deablo should spark defense</b></h2><p>The Falcons have a new face in the linebacker group, and they have high hopes that Deablo will make a big impact.</p><p>Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Deablo <a href="https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/divine-deablo-linebacker-defense-jeff-ulbrich" rel="noopener">fits the profile</a> of a standout linebacker, according to atlantafalcons.com.</p><p>“His athleticism stands out. It’s been unique. His length stands out, which has been unique,” Morris said. “And really him keying and diagnosing behind the ball probably a lot better than we thought, and I’m really fired up to see that.”</p><p>Deablo, a third-round pick in 2021, played with the Raiders for four seasons. He started 42 of 54 games and had a career-high 106 tackles in 2023.</p><p>Falcons linebacker coach Kaden Elliss said Deablo is <a href="https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/divine-deablo-linebacker-defense-jeff-ulbrich" rel="noopener">a unique athlete</a>, according to atlantafalcons.com.</p><p>“I mean, you can see what makes him sick,” Elliss said. “I think he had probably the best play today in practice — really good tip. Just came in and knocked the ball out, and I broke it up for us. And he’s got the length, he’s got the speed, he’s got the athleticism, and he’s got the mentality.”</p><p>And Deablo said he is meshing well with the coaching staff. He said they show a great deal of enthusiasm.</p><p>“Very energetic,” Deable said. “They got a lot of energy. They make sure you come out here ready to work. That’s the only thing they want, and that’s what we’ve been doing for them when it comes to defensive philosophy.”</p><p>Of course, Morris likes what he has seen as well. He said Deablo is bringing a nice fit to the Falcons’ defense. And with the young newcomers, it could be a special year for that unit.</p><p>“I’ve been really pleased with what he’s done, Divine,” Morris said. “I’ve been really pleased with the character, really pleased in how he’s fit into our football team. I’ve been really pleased how our locker room has accepted him and brought him in and really embraced him.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2 hottest Falcons takes coming out of 2025 minicamp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/atlanta-falcons-sleepers-could-break-out-2025-nfl-season');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Atlanta Falcons underrated sleepers who could break out in 2025 NFL season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/3-Atlanta-Falcons-underrated-sleepers-who-could-break-out-in-2025-NFL-season.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Atlanta Falcons underrated sleepers who could break out in 2025 NFL season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-17T17:05:59-07:00">June 17th, 5:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-17T17:05:59-07:00">June 17th, 5:05pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is a Senior Editor and College Sports Lead at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons just missed out on the playoffs last season despite making a controversial quarterback change late in the season. While the decision by Raheem Morris and his staff to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-news-michael-penix-jr-massive-endorsement-robert-griffin-iii">insert Michael Penix Jr. into the lineup</a> in place of Kirk Cousins gave Atlanta a spark, it wasn’t enough to help it get its hands on the NFC South crown.</p><p>Instead, that distinction belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers once again, and the Falcons are left trying to figure out how they can improve heading into next season. 2025 will be Penix’s first full year as the starter, and growth at that spot would go a long way toward improving their record.</p><p>There are a few things for certain with the Falcons heading into next season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-news-bijan-robinson-blunt-message-offense">Bijan Robinson is going to be a workhorse</a> and will carry the load on the ground while pitching in through the air. Drake London should be one of the best security blankets in the league and will likely be Penix’s favorite target to start the season.</p><p>While this Atlanta team has some talent to go along with an offensive line that should be one of the better units in the league next season, it will still need a couple of unsung heroes to take a step forward and become true impact players if it wants to reach his goals this year.</p><p>Here are three sleepers who could be big-time players for the Falcons this fall — and no, nobody is doing the Kyle Pitts thing again.</p><h2><b>WR Darnell Mooney</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Darnell-Mooney.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>For years, it feels like the idea of Darnell Mooney has been better than what he has actually put on the field. However, this could be his best situation yet, and he has a chance to be a very productive No. 2 receiver for Penix and this offense if he takes a step forward.</p><p>Mooney started his career with the Chicago Bears, but failed to ever get any momentum going while working through a porous quarterback situation. However, he has always flashed talent as a route runner and has the explosiveness to be a true weapon on the outside.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-fans-are-going-bonkers-after-kirk-cousins-darnell-mooney-unreal-td-connection">Mooney’s skillset complements that of London</a> perfectly. The former USC star is a sure-handed, big body wideout while Mooney gives them the big-play ability in the passing game.</p><p>After two down years with the Bears, Mooney had one of the best seasons of his career in his first season in Atlanta in 2024. In 16 games, he caught 64 passes on 106 targets for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.</p><p>If he can build off of that performance in 2025, he could be in for a big year.</p><h2><b>DL Morgan Fox</b></h2><p>A player like Morgan Fox is never going to rack up gaudy stats or win a bunch of awards, but he could be the type of player that helps this dreadful Atlanta front seven improve after being one of the worst units in the league for many years now.</p><p>The Colorado State-Pueblo product spent the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and had a strong season in 2024, proving to be a key member of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/chargers-news-jim-harbaughs-stance-on-rookie-who-is-turning-heads-at-minicamp">culture change in Los Angeles under Jim Harbaugh</a>. He finished his three seasons with the Chargers with 17 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks while playing in all 51 games during that time period.</p><p>Fox isn’t going to put up the most gaudy numbers, but he is the type of situational defensive lineman that can make a big difference for a team like the Falcons that didn’t have very many talented rushers in recent years.</p><p>Fox is no slouch against the run either, making him a potential valuable asset for this Atlanta squad. While he may not pop up in the box score or on the stat sheet, keep an eye out for him to contribute to an improved defense in 2025.</p><h2><b>LB Divine Deablo</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Divine-Deablo.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>One of the more underrated free agent signings of the offseason was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-news-atlanta-adds-raiders-divine-deablo-14-million-contract">former Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo</a>. The 26-year old has struggled with his availability at times during his four-year career, but he has the chance to be a very productive player in a similar mold to what Deion Jones was for this Falcons squad back at the start of his career.</p><p>Deablo played in 54 games for the Raiders over his four years there and made 288 tackles <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DeabDi00.htm" rel="noopener">during that time</a>. He was a tackle machine during the 2023 season, making 106 stops in just 15 games before seeing his production drop off on a porous Las Vegas defense in 2024.</p><p>That doesn’t mean that the Virginia Tech product doesn’t have room to improve. His instincts could be a bit better, which would allow him to make a few more plays in opposing backfields. He also isn’t a high-turnover player, with just two fumble recoveries to his name and zero interceptions or forced fumbles in his career.</p><p>Deablo also needs to get better as a coverage linebacker as a whole if he wants to reach higher heights in his career. However, adding a sure tackler who is a reliable, solid player into this Falcons front seven should immediately make them better and give Raheem Morris one more spot that he doesn’t have to lose sleep over. That alone should make him a key player for this defense in 2025.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Atlanta Falcons underrated sleepers who could break out in 2025 NFL season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-michael-penix-jr-massive-endorsement-robert-griffin-iii');   ga('set', 'title', 'Michael Penix Jr. earns a massive endorsement from Robert Griffin III');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Michael-Penix-Jr.jpg"></figure><h1>Michael Penix Jr. earns a massive endorsement from Robert Griffin III</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-16T17:26:14-07:00">June 16th, 5:26pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-16T17:35:41-07:00">June 16th, 5:35pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite signing <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/grading-kirk-cousins-4-year-180-million-contract-with-falcons">Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract</a> prior to the 2024 season, the Atlanta Falcons doubled down on the position a month later, taking Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall in the NFL draft.</p><p>After a brutal four-game losing streak during which the veteran quarterback had zero touchdowns and eight interceptions and the Falcons fell to 7-7, the team made a change. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-benches-kirk-cousins-favor-of-michael-penix-jr">Cousins was benched</a> in favor of the rookie.</p><p>The Falcons are sticking with Penix as the starter for 2025. And the second-year passer received some <a href="https://x.com/RGIII/status/1934730118120841460" rel="noopener">serious support</a> from former quarterback Robert Griffin III.</p><p>“Michael Penix Jr. will be the breakout QB of the Year in the NFL this year,” RGIII wrote on his official X account.</p><h2><b>Is Michael Penix Jr. on the verge of a breakout with the Falcons?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Michael-Penix-Jr2.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Penix didn’t exactly set the world on fire in his three rookie season starts. He completed 58 percent of his passes and threw for 737 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, going 1-2 to close out the year. Still, he showed the Falcons enough to earn the starting job moving forward.</p><p>The decision to start Penix makes Cousins the league’s highest-paid backup, as Atlanta is on the hook to the 37-year-old veteran for $100 million in guaranteed money. Of course, the team could eat some of that money and trade him but the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-rumors-atlanta-accused-being-stubborn-kirk-cousins">Falcons are reportedly being stubborn with Cousins</a> and he remains on the roster.</p><p>His salary has impacted the team’s ability to add playmakers in free agency. And the Falcons focused almost exclusively on defense in the 2025 NFL draft. A seventh-round tackle was Atlanta’s only addition to the offensive side of the ball in the draft.</p><p>Still, Penix does have weapons to work with. Former first-round wideout Drake London is coming off his first 1,000-yard season. He also had 100 receptions and nine touchdowns in 2024. Darnell Mooney fell just eight yards shy of 1,000 yards in his Falcons debut last year. And running back Bijan Robinson is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Atlanta also has tight end Kyle Pitts</p><p>The Falcons have failed to make the playoffs in seven straight seasons. But the team is hopeful Penix can change the franchise’s fortunes. Still, if Atlanta ultimately keeps Cousins as its QB2, the pressure will be on Penix to get off to a strong start.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Michael Penix Jr. earns a massive endorsement from Robert Griffin III

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/atlanta-falcons-danger-getting-cut-2025-minicamp');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Atlanta Falcons in danger of getting cut after 2025 minicamp');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-Atlanta-Falcons-in-danger-of-getting-cut-after-2025-minicamp.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Atlanta Falcons in danger of getting cut after 2025 minicamp</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-16T10:44:42-07:00">June 16th, 10:44am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-16T10:44:42-07:00">June 16th, 10:44am</time><address><a>Bryan Logan</a>Bryan Logan decided to jump into his passion for sports betting in 2022 after spending years in the world of education. With a love for analytics and all sports, he began working on models for daily sports picks. This led him to ClutchPoints in 2023, where he became part of the betting team before transitioning to editorial work.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons finished their first mandatory minicamp on June 12th. After finishing second in the NFC South last season, Atlanta looks to make improvements to secure a playoff berth this year. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-espn-experts-baffled-trade-up-rams-bad-business">Falcons already made big moves at the NFL Draft</a>, and have brought back many of the core players who brought them to eight wins last season.  Still, the business of the NFL means that as some players improve and grow, others have to be cut to make room for them. We look at the three players in danger of being cut from the Falcons now that mini-camp is over.</p><p>The first major piece of news out of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-no-surprise-mandatory-minicamp-decision">Falcons minicamp was the arrival of Kirk Cousins</a>. After skipping voluntary OTAs this offseason, Cousins arrived at minicamp as expected. Now the Falcons will not practice as a team again until training camp opens in July. Between now and then, the front office and coaches will evaluate each position, looking to bring in the best 90 players for their roster as they prepare for the 2025 season.</p><p>The Falcons have already made moves this offseason. They released Grady Jarrett while also seeing Richie Grant leave. The Falcons also brought in two first-round draft picks and signed players Leonard Floyd and Easton Stick. With new faces on the roster this year, there will be players who will be cut before the start of training camp.</p><h2><b>The Falcons cut a veteran in favor of new faces</b></h2><p>This past offseason, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-atlanta-leonard-floyd-49ers-release">Falcons signed Leonard Floyd to a one-year contract</a> worth $10 million. He was a first-round pick in 2016 by the Chicago Bears, playing his first five seasons with the team. He would then spend two years with the Los Angeles Rams, before a year in Buffalo, and last season with the San Francisco 49ers. Floyd has been productive in recent years. In each of the last five seasons, he had had 8.5 or more sacks, while forcing a fumble in four of the last five. He has seen his tackle numbers diminish in recent years, and played just ten games last season, but still had 8.5 sacks.</p><p>Still, it is not just the signing of Floyd that could lead to a player being cut. James Pearce Jr. was also drafted in the first round. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/2-falcons-veterans-whose-roles-will-be-pushed-by-rookies-in-2025">Head coach Raheem Morris has had high praise for Pearce</a> already. He was drafted with the 26th pick in this past NFL draft out of Tennessee. He had a solid college career, including being third in the SEC in sacks in the 2023 season.</p><p>With Pearce already looking good and the new addition of Floyd, DeAngelo Malone could be the odd man out. Malone is a former third-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft. The former All-Conference-USA player out of Western Kentucky has yet to make a name for himself at the NFL level. His season high in tackles came in his rookie year of 2022. That year, he had 18 solo tackles and 11 assisted tackles. He also had just one sack and four tackles for a loss. In 2023, his playing time decreased, and he registered just six combined tackles. Last season, he had just 16 combined tackles with two sacks and three TFLs. Malone is not living up to expectations and could be on his way out of Atlanta.</p><h2><b>Atlanta decides on Kirk Cousins’ future</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Atlanta-Falcons-quarterback-Kirk-Cousins-throws-the-ball-against-the-Las-Vegas-Raiders-in-the-first-half-at-Allegiant-Stadium.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Kirk Cousins is currently under contract with the Atlanta Falcons through the 2027 season. The veteran quarterback is coming off his first season in Atlanta. Cousins rose to prominence in his time in Washington and then would spend six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. In his final season in Minnesota, Cousins suffered a torn Achilles and would miss the end of the season. Cousins then joined the Falcons as a free agent.</p><p>His time as a starter did not last very long. To begin with, the Falcons shocked many people by drafting Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Cousins would go on to be the starting quarterback for the Falcons. After 14 games, Cousins would find the bench in favor of Penix. There has been<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/kirk-cousins-trade-talks-in-cold-water-after-aaron-rodgers-deal"> speculation that Cousins would be traded,</a> but he has not found his way out of Atlanta yet.</p><p>Cousins expects to be the backup to Penix this year, but he has a very high cost attached to his contract. The Falcons could release the veteran quarterback, and <a href="https://fansided.com/kirk-cousins-contract-what-would-cost-falcons-cut-benched-qb#:~:text=Releasing%20Cousins%20after%20the%202024%20season%20with,over%20the%20next%20two%20seasons%2C%20per%20OverTheCap." rel="noopener">while they would have $40 million in dead cap space this year</a>, they would save money in the long term.  Atlanta brought in Easton Stick. He has started four games in his six-year career as a backup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Emory Jones is also on the roster. He signed a reserve/future contract this offseason. With three other quarterbacks and the potential desire not to have this situation linger, the Falcons might cut ties with Cousins.</p><h2><b>The Falcons have a new kicker</b></h2><p>Younghoe Koo joined the Falcons in the 2019 season. After going undrafted out of Georgia Southern, he joined the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, winning the job over Josh Lambo at the end of the preseason. Still, Koo had struggles, going just three for six kicking, leading to his release from the Chargers.  Koo would then spend time in the AAF before time on the New England Patriots practice squad. Then, in 2019, Koo joined the Falcons.</p><p>Since then, he has been solid, but last year, he saw a decline in production. Last season, Koo went just 25-34 kicking, his worst percentage since his time with the Chargers. He was also injured at the end of the season, and his 101 total points were the lowest he had since the 2019 season. The Falcons <a href="https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/lenny-krieg-german-kicker-younghoe-koo" rel="noopener">have just signed</a> Lenny Krieg to a three-year contract.</p><p>The kicker from Germany has spent time in the German Football League and the European League of Football. This offseason, he was part of the International Player Pathway program and was impressive, earning himself a contract from the Falcons. With Koo having a bad year, plus having a sizeable contract for a kicker, he could be released in favor of the international prospect this offseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Atlanta Falcons in danger of getting cut after 2025 minicamp

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-trade-buzz-gets-shut-down-by-peter-schrager');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Kirk Cousins trade buzz gets shut down by Peter Schrager');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kirk-Cousins_d2b148.jpg"><figcaption>Credit: Brett Davis</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Kirk Cousins trade buzz gets shut down by Peter Schrager</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-10T17:05:29-07:00">June 10th, 5:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-10T17:05:29-07:00">June 10th, 5:05pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chris.spiering.3" rel="facebook">Chris Spiering</a>Chris Spiering graduated from the University of San Diego with a Communication Studies Degree. He spent his final year as the Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris manages the betting team at ClutchPoints and contributes about the NFL, MLB, and NBA, but he follows most sports, including NCAA Basketball. Chris also covers San Diego State men's basketball for East Village Times.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/kirk-cousins-trade-talks-in-cold-water-after-aaron-rodgers-deal">Kirk Cousins</a> and the Atlanta Falcons have an interesting situation heading into this season. Cousins is very much still capable of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. Despite this, Cousins will enter the season as the backup behind Michael Penix Jr. Peter Schrager of ESPN shuts down any rumor that Cousins will be traded.</p><p>Earlier on Tuesday, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-breaks-silence-mandatory-minicamp-attendance">Cousins broke his silence during mandatory minicamp</a>.</p><p>Schrager joins the Pat McAfee show often to discuss the latest in the league. On Tuesday, former NFL cornerback <a href="https://x.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1932493729958343087" rel="noopener">Darius Butler asked Schrager if Cousins could be traded</a>.</p><p>He quickly stated that the trade is unlikely.</p><p>“From what I’m hearing, it sounds like Cousins with his no-trade clause, after (Aaron) Rodgers’ seat has been filled, is going to be an Atlanta Falcon, and is going to be the backup to Michael Penix, and he’s going to collect every last cent of that contract.”</p><p>It makes sense for Cousins to collect the money from the contract and remain a Falcon. Cousins is very good QB with many electric moments in his career. There are not many options available for him to start for, and so, remaining a Falcon makes sense. An injury can surface at any time, and then maybe the trade talks can pick up when that happens. For now, Cousins will back up Penix Jr. and help build a strong offense with a lot of firepower.</p><p>Penix Jr. started the final five games of last season but threw just three touchdowns and three interceptions. With a full offseason under his belt as the starter, Penix will improve, and Cousins will help him get there with his experience.</p><p>The Falcons play in a winnable NFC South Division, and they will compete with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the division. The Carolina Panthers will be an average team, and the New Orleans Saints will be tough to watch. Cousins still has an opportunity to play, depending on how well Penix Jr plays this season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Kirk Cousins trade buzz gets shut down by Peter Schrager

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-breaks-silence-mandatory-minicamp-attendance');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Kirk Cousins breaks silence on mandatory minicamp attendance');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kirk-Cousins-jogging.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Kirk Cousins breaks silence on mandatory minicamp attendance</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-10T12:02:07-07:00">June 10th, 12:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-10T12:02:37-07:00">June 10th, 12:02pm</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Kirk Cousins is still <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-no-surprise-mandatory-minicamp-decision">committed to the Atlanta Falcons</a>, even after the offseason drama that followed his rocky debut season with the team. Despite the ongoing trade and release rumors, the veteran quarterback showed up for the Falcons’ 2025 mandatory minicamp and doubled down on his dedication to the franchise.</p><p>After the team’s first minicamp practice, Cousins said he <a href="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1932500722483904815" rel="noopener">just wants to “move forward”</a> with the Falcons, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 36-year-old is preparing to enter his season as the backup for the first time since 2014.</p><p>“We’re moving forward, and it’s about how we, as a team and as a quarterback room, can be the best we can be in 2025,” Cousins said, via Rapoport.</p><p>Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons in 2024, just months before the team shockingly drafted Michael Penix Jr. at No. 9. Cousins started the first 14 games of the year before being benched in favor of Penix, who started the final three games. Atlanta ended the year going 7-7 with Cousins and 1-2 with Penix.</p><p>With Penix now the full-time starter, many <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-rumors-kirk-cousins-expected-traded-2025-draft-capital">expected the Falcons to trade or release Cousins</a> in the 2025 offseason. Instead, the team appears content entering training camp with Cousins as Penix’s backup, even with his inflated salary.</p><h2><b>Falcons’ quarterback room with Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Michael-Penix-Jr-and-Kirk-Cousins.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Penix is undoubtedly the Falcons’ future moving forward, but Cousins appears to also be a part of it. Atlanta had difficulty finding a suitable partner willing to accept the latter’s lofty deal, while not wanting to buy out the remaining $150 million. Rival teams expressed interest in adding Cousins, but not at his current price.</p><p>The Falcons added two other quarterbacks ahead of OTAs to fill out their offseason quarterback room. While Cousins sat out of the voluntary OTAs, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-add-veteran-quarterback-amid-kirk-cousins-trade-rumors">Atlanta added longtime Los Angeles Chargers backup Easton Stick</a> and former undrafted rookie Emory Jones. Stick has not taken the field since 2023, while Jones has yet to play an official NFL snap.</p><p>Barring an unexpected turn of events, Stick will likely land on the team’s practice squad, with Jones looking like a cut candidate. Cousins could still be traded before Week 1, but the Falcons seem to have come to terms with the idea that he will begin the regular season on their roster.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Kirk Cousins breaks silence on mandatory minicamp attendance

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-no-surprise-mandatory-minicamp-decision');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Kirk Cousins makes ‘no surprise’ mandatory minicamp decision');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kirk-Cousins-is-no-longer-the-Falcons-starting-quarterback-1.jpg"><figcaption>Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Kirk Cousins makes ‘no surprise’ mandatory minicamp decision</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-10T08:34:24-07:00">June 10th, 8:34am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-10T08:57:46-07:00">June 10th, 8:57am</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite rumors and speculation, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-expected-attend-minicamp-amid-trade-rumors">Kirk Cousins is not at odds with the Atlanta Falcons</a>. After skipping the team’s voluntary OTAs, the Falcons’ veteran quarterback expectedly arrived at mandatory minicamp.</p><p>The move was “no surprise” to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, who added that the team <a href="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1932452542908072231" rel="noopener">plans to keep him</a> as a backup. Though believing he is good enough to start, Cousins appears content with the role.</p><p>Cousins entered the 2024 season as the team’s starter, but lost the job to rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Week 16. In the five weeks leading up to his benching, Cousins threw just one touchdown to a whopping nine interceptions. Penix subsequently led the team to a 1-2 finish down the stretch, with both losses coming in overtime.</p><p>Despite <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/grading-kirk-cousins-4-year-180-million-contract-with-falcons">owing Cousins over $150 million</a> over the next three seasons, the Falcons still view him as a valuable backup to Penix. Atlanta believes in Penix, the No. 9 overall pick in 2024, as its franchise quarterback and has high hopes for his first full season as the starter.</p><p>In his three starts as a rookie, Penix threw for 737 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He improved with each outing, ending the season with a career-high 312 passing yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Carolina Panthers.</p><h2><b>Falcons’ quarterback situation with Kirk Cousins</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kirk-Cousins-18-prepares-for-a-game-against-the-New-York-Giants-at-Mercedes-Benz-Stadium.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If the Falcons trade Cousins before the offseason ends, Easton Stick and Emory Jones are their remaining backup options. Stick, who backed up Justin Herbert for four years with the Los Angeles Chargers, would be the favorite to win the job.</p><p>While Cousins is easily the most expensive backup in the league, he is the only quarterback on the Falcons’ roster with meaningful experience. Throughout the history of the league, most successful young quarterbacks have thrived while sharing a locker room with a veteran.</p><p>Atlanta clearly sees Penix as the leader of a new era, but the southpaw comes with minor injury concerns. Penix played just two full seasons in college, both with Washington at the end of his six-year career. Before then, he never played more than six games in a single season through four years with Indiana.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Kirk Cousins makes ‘no surprise’ mandatory minicamp decision

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/hbcu/doug-williamss-son-nabs-nfl-coaching-job-continues-family-legacy');   ga('set', 'title', 'Doug Williams’s son nabs NFL coaching job, continues family legacy');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Doug-Williams-at-a-Celebration-Bowl-event.jpg"><figcaption>© Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Doug Williams’s son nabs NFL coaching job, continues family legacy</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-09T18:10:09-07:00">June 9th, 6:10pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-09T18:10:09-07:00">June 9th, 6:10pm</time><address><a>Randall Barnes</a>Randall Barnes is a Fall 2019 Graduate of Fort Valley State University, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in Fort Valley, Georgia, where he majored in Media Studies. He is the Founder of HBCU Pulse, a multimedia outlet with the mission to tell the authentic stories of HBCU Life via traditional, digital and social media outlets to amplify our voice. He is also the host of HBCU Pulse Radio, which can be heard on SiriusXM Channel 142 HBCU Fridays at 5 p.m. EST and wherever you get your podcasts.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Doug Williams has had an iconic football career as a player, coach, and executive. Now, his son DJ Williams is embarking on his own coaching journey with the Atlanta Falcons. In February, Williams <a href="https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/coaches-roster/d-j-williams" rel="noopener">was promoted to</a> quarterbacks coach for the Atlanta Falcons.</p><p>Doug and DJ’s careers intersect in an amazing way, showing how sports can slowly but surely become a family legacy. His football journey began at Grambling State University, where he played under the legendary Eddie G. Robinson from 1974 to 1977. During his tenure, he led the Tigers to three SWAC Championships and an impressive 36-7 record. His exceptional performance on the field garnered significant Heisman Trophy buzz, culminating in a fourth-place finish in 1977.</p><p>In 1978, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/hbcu-legend-doug-williams-lands-big-time-nfl-promotion">Doug Williams was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> as the 17th overall pick in the NFL Draft. His journey in professional football took a significant turn when he joined the Washington Redskins, where he not only showcased his skills but also solidified his place in history. Fast forward to 1988, Williams made history by becoming the first Black quarterback to secure a Super Bowl MVP title.</p><p>Williams’ influence on football stretches well past his playing career. After retiring, he made a significant impact by returning to Grambling State to take on the role of coaching the Tigers. In a memorable season in 2000, he steered the team to a SWAC title, achieving an impressive 10-2 record. The subsequent year marked another milestone as he guided the Tigers to a remarkable Black College Football National Title, culminating in a stellar 10-1 season. Building on this success, Williams continued to shine by securing consecutive SWAC championships in 2002, capping off the season with an outstanding 11-2 record.</p><p>DJ is determined to carry the Williams family legacy to new heights. Following in his father’s footsteps, he graduated from Grambling State in 2015 and played quarterback for the Tigers from 2011 to 2014. During his college career, he started games in all four seasons and earned tryouts with multiple NFL teams after graduation.</p><p>In 2019, he joined the New Orleans Saints and quickly made an impact. In 2023, Williams played a key role in helping Saints quarterback Derek Carr achieve an impressive season, completing 375 of 548 passes (68.4%) for 3,878 yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, earning a 97.7 passer rating in his first year with the team. Carr finished the season ranked in the top 10 among quarterbacks for completions, passing touchdowns, and passer rating.</p><p>He joined the Falcons in 2024 and served as an offensive assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach and worked closely with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/falcons-rumors-atlanta-blindside-kirk-cousins-michael-penix-jr">both Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix</a>. Now, with his official appointment as quarterback coach, he set to continue to be instrumental to the growth and development of Penix as the Falcons’s franchise quarterback of the future.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Doug Williams’s son nabs NFL coaching job, continues family legacy

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/2-falcons-veterans-whose-roles-will-be-pushed-by-rookies-in-2025');   ga('set', 'title', '2 Falcons veterans whose roles will be pushed by rookies in 2025');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/X-Falcons-veterans-whose-roles-will-be-pushed-by-rookies-in-2025.jpg"></figure><h1>2 Falcons veterans whose roles will be pushed by rookies in 2025</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-09T17:48:01-07:00">June 9th, 5:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-09T17:48:01-07:00">June 9th, 5:48pm</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>There are plenty of reasons the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-bijan-robinson-blunt-message-offense">Atlanta Falcons can be excited</a> about their offense. And they may even have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-expected-attend-minicamp-amid-trade-rumors">depth at quarterback</a> if a trade doesn’t occur. But it is the defensive side of the ball where two Falcons veterans will see their roles pushed by rookies in the 2025 season.</p><p>First and foremost, edge rusher James Pearce Jr. will put current starter Leonard Floyd on notice. Floyd is a nine-year veteran and he’s 32 years old. He’s coming off an 8.5-sack season with the 49ers in 2024. And the Falcons make his fourth team in the last four seasons.</p><p>But Pearce is charging hard and trying to make noise to steal the starting assignment.</p><h2><b>Falcons LB James Pearce Jr. hungry to play</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Atlanta-Falcons-edge-rusher-James-Pearce-Jr.jpg"><figcaption>© Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel /USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Falcons’ head coach Raheem Morris said he sees similarities in Pearce and A.J. Terrell. The latter is the team’s longest-tenured defensive player, according to Sports Illustrated. It’s a personality thing, Morris said.</p><p>“That was definitely something I suggested because they remind me — they’re a different position, obviously, different body type, all that type of stuff — but the personalities, demeanors,” Morris said. “I remember A.J. came in and was just a really serious rookie when I had him, and James is a really serious rookie.</p><p>“You’re going to be hard-pressed to get a smile out of him until he knows you. I kind of thought they had similar traits and similar things that I felt like, ‘Hey, that would be a nice guy for you to kind of talk to.’ ”</p><p>Terrell said he already sees good things from Pearce.</p><p>“Coming in as a rookie, you’re trying to fit in with the locker room. But I feel like Day 1 with James, it was always love out the gate,” Terrell said. “You know the type of — I don’t want to say pressure — but the mindset of a rookie, coming in, you’re just trying to come in and set your foundation and things like that.</p><p>“Being drafted so high, you feel like everybody expects you to do certain things, but you can still be yourself. Like, it’s an open locker room where you can — ain’t nothing for us. Just continue to be you, and you will strive.”</p><h2><b>James Pearce drawing plenty of attention</b></h2><p>Chris Trapasson chose him as the top pick for NFL defensive <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/falcons/news/falcons-rookie-edge-james-pearce-for-defensive-rookie-of-the-year" rel="noopener">rookie of the year</a> honors, according to cbssports.com.</p><p>“With Pearce as my No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 class, I’m not backing away from that before any games are played,” Trapasso said, “Pearce is a sizable, athletic, refined and deceptively powerful outside rusher. (He) demolished the SEC the past two seasons with a cumulative pressure rate over 21%. I’ve written that statistic like 50 times the past four months. And I’m still astonished by it.”</p><p>Trapasson said Pearce is in a good situation to thrive with the Falcons.</p><p>“Atlanta has finished 32nd in sacks twice (2015, 2021) and 31st a ridiculous five times (2013, 2014, 2019, 2022, and 2024) over the past decade,” Trapasso wrote. “Any uptick in team pass-rushing production will be viewed as a ginormous win for the Falcons. And I believe Pearce will be at the center of that en route to winning this mostly outside pass rusher-dominated award.”</p><h2><b>Safety Xavier Watts pushing Jordan Fuller</b></h2><p>The interesting thing here is that Fuller doesn’t have a history with the Falcons. He played for the Rams in 2023 and the Panthers in 2024. Plus, the Panthers played downright poor defense last season. Still, Watts stands behind Fuller on the depth chart right now.</p><p>Watts said he’s not <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6367993/2025/05/20/falcons-rookies-xavier-watts-billy-bowman-jr/">worrying about expectations</a>, according to nytimes.com.</p><p>“I am not really expecting anything,” he said. “I’m just trusting my teammates and coaches, and we’ll see what happens.”</p><p>And Watts isn’t the only rookie pushing Fuller. Billy Bowman came to the Falcons just one round after Watts.</p><p>“We’re similar in size,” Watts said. “He gets the ball. He’s a playmaker. He can tackle well. So, I feel like we’re very similar in all aspects of the game of football.”</p><p>Morris said he likes having a competitive safety room.</p><p>“It’s going to be a very competitive safety room,” coach Raheem Morris said. “Having Watts come here and compete with those guys, get a chance to get on the field and really be productive for us is something that we look forward to doing this spring.”</p><p>Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg said Bowman looks the part.</p><p>“He’s a guy who has shown elite coverage skills,” said Rutenberg. “He can match on a slot. He has really good short-area quickness. It takes some DNA, too, and he’s built from the right stuff.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024 SEASON STATS
RUSHING YDS	RECEPTIONS	RECEIVING YDS	TOTAL TDS	POSITION RANK
1099.3	22.2	150.2	8.7	29

2024 SEASON STATS
RUSHING YDS	RECEPTIONS	RECEIVING YDS	TOTAL TDS	POSITION RANK
1099.3	22.2	150.2	8.7	29

Tyler
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2022 Projected vs Actual Pts

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