The Atlanta Falcons head coach, Raheem Morris, hopes he can fix their pass rush, which has struggled since he was their interim head coach in 2020. They ranked 32nd in sacks and 32nd in pressures in 2021, 31st in sacks and 31st in pressures in 2022, and 21st in sacks and 16th in pressures in 2023.
Their three leading sackers from last season were Calais Campbell with 6.5 sacks (UFA), Bud Dupree with 6.5 sacks (UFA), and Arnold Ebiketie with 6.0 sacks (two years left of his deal).
Morris told reporters that they would prioritize their pass rush through the draft.
“I think that’s a definite priority for us just based on our history,” Morris said March 26 at the annual league meetings. “I think you want to go out and add pass rushers almost every single year. I don’t know as long as I’m the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons if I’ll ever sit here and say I don’t want to add one of those guys.”
With approximately $6 million in cap space, the Falcons cannot afford to sign a big-name pass rusher in free agency but could sign a player on a team-friendly deal.
The team met with an EDGE rusher from the NFC East.
The Atlanta Falcons hosted an EDGE rusher for a visit.
According to Aaron Wilson, the Falcons met with James Smith-Williams.
He started his career in Washington, D.C.
James Smith-Williams spent his first four seasons with Ron Rivera.
The Washington Football Team drafted Smith-Williams in the 7th round, 229th overall of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has 85 tackles, 14 for a loss, 31 hits, 7.0 sacks, and two pass deflections in his career, playing in 55 games and starting 27.
Smith-Williams didn’t play much in his rookie season. He played in 14 games and had ten tackles, three for a loss, two hits, 0.5 sacks, and a 59.9 PFF Grade in 98 (11%) defensive snaps.
Smith-Williams’s role expanded in his second season because of an injury to Montez Sweat and Chase Young. He played in 14 games, starting six, with 30 tackles, four for a loss, five hits, 2.5 sacks, one pass deflection, and a 56.9 PFF Grade in 387 (44%) defensive snaps.
Smith-Williams saw the most playing time in his third season because of the injury to Young. He played in 14 games, starting 14, with 23 tackles, five for a loss, 16 hits, 3.0 sacks, one pass deflection, and a 59.8 PFF Grade in 506 (60%) defensive snaps.
Smith-Williams didn’t receive much playing time at the start of his fourth season, but he found himself in the starting rotation after the team traded Sweat and Young during the NFL Trade Deadline. He played in 13 games, starting seven, with 22 tackles, two for a loss, eight hits, 1.0 sacks, and a 58.6 PFF Grade in 418 (45%) defensive snaps.
What would James Smith-Williams bring to Jimmy Lake’s defense?
Smith-Williams would bring experience to Jimmy Lake’s defense. He has played over 55 games and has started 27 games to date.
Finally, he would also bring depth to Lake’s defense. Depth matters to a defense because if a starter gets injured, they will have someone who can start and rely on them.
The Atlanta Falcons EDGE rushers are inexperienced outside of Lorenzo Carter.
The Falcons’ EDGE rushers are young and inexperienced outside of Lorenzo Carter. Other players who are under contract include Arnold Ebiketie (will be his third season), Ade Ogundeji (will be his fourth season), and DeAngelo Malone (will be his third season).
The Falcons will have to add a few more EDGE rushers this offseason.
Will James Smith-Williams be one of them?
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