The Falcons have three of the top 100 players in the NFL going into the 2019 season, according to a list by Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire.
Let’s take a look at which Atlanta players made the cut and where they ranked.
QB Matt Ryan: No. 50
“Ryan isn’t ever going to threaten defenses as a pure runner, but he’s got great pocket mobility — he has the footwork and field awareness to avoid pressure in short areas, and he’s great at stepping up away from pass rushers. . . Ryan has been a smooth and accurate passer for a long time, but even in an offensive structure that has given him little in comparison to what he had under Shanahan, Ryan has expanded his excellence in the little things.”
DT Grady Jarrett: No. 34
“Jarrett is especially effective at nose tackle, where he uses his 6-foot, 305-pound frame to create power pushes inside. But he can also play three-tech very well with his strength and agility, and he’s got the edge bend and inside counter to play end in certain packages. Wherever he lines up, Jarrett knows how to stun enemy blockers with stab moves right off the snap, and he gains the advantage from there.”
WR Julio Jones: No. 7
“Standing 6-3 and weighing 220 pounds, Jones can beat coverage with physical dominance just as easily as he can win with track speed downfield. And he’s developed a great sense of the subtleties of the position, as well as an unparalleled awareness of small openings in coverage. The only people able to stop him in the red zone are various Falcons coaches who prefer to use him as a decoy in scoring situations.”
