When it comes to the NFL preseason, the final score takes a back seat to the individual battles taking place on the field.
These exhibition games allow guys like Jared Bernhardt and Dee Alford the opportunity to show what they can do. And while a good game can potentially help you make the roster, a bad game can just as easily get you cut.
Pro Football Focus released its Week 2 preseason grades. Let’s take a look at the highest and lowest-rated Falcons players from Monday’s loss to the Jets.
Starter grades
| Offense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Snap Count | Grade |
| QB | Marcus Mariota | 15 | 87.1 |
| HB | Damien Williams | 4 | 55.7 |
| WR | KhaDarel Hodge | 12 | 66.8 |
| WR | Bryan Edwards | 12 | 67.7 |
| TE | Kyle Pitts | 3 | 92.7 |
| TE | Parker Hesse | 17 | 63.9 |
| RT | Kaleb McGary | 15 | 57.6 |
| RG | Chris Lindstrom | 15 | 83.2 |
| C | Drew Dalman | 15 | 54.3 |
| LG | Elijah Wilkinson | 15 | 69.0 |
| LT | Jake Matthews | 15 | 57.0 |
Kyle Pitts leads the way among all offensive players. He started the game off with a big play for a 52-yard gain. Falcons head coach didn’t need to see much more and pulled Pitts after three snaps. Marcus Mariota comes close to topping Pitts after he had a stellar night as the starting quarterback.
| Defense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Snap Count | Grade |
| DT | Ta’Quon Graham | 10 | 80.0 |
| NT | Anthony Rush | 8 | 55.1 |
| DT | Jalen Dalton | 16 | 53.2 |
| OLB | Lorenzo Carter | 11 | 71.4 |
| OLB | Ade Ogundeji | 11 | 66.8 |
| MLB | Rashaan Evans | 13 | 71.4 |
| MLB | Mykal Walker | 13 | 42.4 |
| CB | A.J. Terrell | 5 | 63.4 |
| CB | Casey Hayward | 5 | 72.7 |
| SS | Jaylinn Hawkins | 13 | 63.6 |
| FS | Richie Grant | 13 | 65.9 |
For the snaps they played, the entire defense had a favorable grade for their performance except for Mykal Walker. The linebacker looking to cement himself into the starting spot was one of the lowest-graded players on defense. Walker may not be in fear of losing his starting spot just yet, but he needs to put on a solid performance to strengthen his hold on it.
5 highest grades
| Offense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Snap Count | Grade |
| TE | Kyle Pitts | 3 | 92.7 |
| QB | Desmond Ridder | 26 | 92.6 |
| TE | MyCole Pruitt | 25 | 89.4 |
| WR | Olamide Zaccheaus | 6 | 88.1 |
| QB | Marcus Mariota | 15 | 87.1 |
| Defense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Snap Count | Grade |
| CB | Corey Ballentine | 31 | 81.7 |
| DT | Ta’Quon Graham | 10 | 80.0 |
| NT | Abdullah Anderson | 25 | 75.1 |
| CB | Casey Hayward | 5 | 72.7 |
| OLB | Lorenzo Carter | 11 | 71.4 |
5 lowest grades
| Offense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Snap Count | Grade |
| LT | Rick Leonard | 23 | 40.6 |
| HB | Avery Williams | 8 | 43.2 |
| RT | Germain Ifedi | 23 | 48.5 |
| QB | Feleipe Franks | 24 | 49.8 |
| WR | Geronimo Allison | 18 | 52.8 |
| Defense | |||
| Pos. | Name | Snap Count | Grade |
| OLB | Kuony Deng | 13 | 29.1 |
| CB | Lafayette Pitts | 29 | 36.0 |
| OLB | Arnold Ebiketie | 22 | 36.7 |
| DT | Timmy Home | 26 | 41.0 |
| NT | Derrick Tangelo | 14 | 41.6 |
