Winners and Losers of the Atlanta Falcons' Offseason So Far
The Atlanta Falcons have had an extremely eventful offseason, including a new coaching staff, a full draft class, multiple free-agent signings and re-signings and the release of some players that will free up a ton of cap space. There were definite winners and losers from this year's offseason activity.
Some of those losers come from positions that have been phased out under the new coaches, while others will come from just being replaced by better players. The winners will include players who are supposed to succeed under the new coaching staff better than they did under the past coaching staff.
Winner: Ricardo Allen
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When most second-year players undergo a position change from the spot they played in college to one that they have never played before, it means they're trying to scratch and claw to make the roster. In the case of Ricardo Allen, his switch from being a slower, undersized corner to a faster, rangy safety will be a positive one.
Already a solid tackler, Allen has seen first-team reps at free safety during the offseason, according to ESPN's Vaughn McClure. Known for being an instinctual player who understands how to make plays on the ball, Allen should use his ball-hawking skills to make an impact in 2015.
Not just that, but the 2014 fifth-round pick is looking like the best value pick from the 2014 draft for the Falcons. If he earns a starting role and can play to his potential, the Falcons might have a safety who creates turnovers in bunches and helps the defense get off the field.
Loser: Kroy Biermann
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Kroy Biermann has been in and out of a starting role for the Falcons since he was drafted back in 2008. After tearing his Achilles in 2013, Biermann was a bit tentative for the first half of the 2014 season. During the second half, he looked to finally have confidence in his ankle and played better but still wasn't good.
At this point in his career, Biermann shouldn't be starting. However, just like any other player, he'll want to compete for as much playing time as possible. He might have a better shot in Dan Quinn's schemes, where his role could be defined as a "Leo" defensive end or a strong-side linebacker.
The problem here comes with the fact that Vic Beasley was drafted No. 8 overall to be his replacement at Leo, and Brooks Reed was signed to a $22 million contract to play strong-side linebacker. Add in O'Brien Schofield being signed to compete, and Biermann could go from top pass-rusher in the rotation to fourth.
And if he can't beat out Stansly Maponga for the fourth spot in the pass-rushing rotation, Biermann could potentially be cut despite his leadership off the field and solid play as a rotational player on it.
Winner: Vic Beasley
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How many players out there can say not only that they got to play for their favorite team growing up but that the team that they loved growing up drafted them with one of the top 10 picks in the NFL draft?
Very, very few. Vic Beasley is one of them. But he's not just a winner because of his draft stock skyrocketing due to a great senior season and exceptional combine performance. He's a winner this offseason because the team with the perfect plan to use him drafted him.
He could have been drafted by a 3-4 team that didn't have a good plan for him or a 4-3 team that would have put him out of position. Instead, the Falcons took him with the intention of using him as a world-wrecker at the Leo defensive end/outside linebacker role that highlights his pass-rushing ability.
Beasley could be a Rookie of the Year candidate should he settle into the starting role at that position and really perform well come the regular season. He's with the right coach who will use him where he wins, so his impact should be maximized for a rookie.
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Losers: Sam Baker and Justin Blalock
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Sam Baker and Justin Blalock are the two biggest losers from the offensive line. Both were released after they were deemed not quick enough for the Falcons' new offensive scheme under Kyle Shanahan, which features zone blocking and takes advantage of speed at the offensive line positions.
They were also released to save a ton of cap space for now and in the future. According to the figures from Spotrac, cutting Blalock saved the team $3.79 million in 2015 and $7.11 million in 2016. For Baker, Spotrac has the Falcons saving $4.5 million in 2015, $1.65 million in 2016, $9.3 million in 2017 and $7.4 million in 2018.
The combined savings between the two players winds up being $8.29 million in 2015, $8.76 million in 2016, $9.3 million in 2017 and $7.4 million in 2018. The Falcons should be using that money toward a Julio Jones extension. Two older, overpaid offensive linemen wouldn't have been more valuable than Jones is.
Winner: Ryan Schraeder
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With the move to the zone-blocking scheme, Ryan Schraeder should be the biggest winner along the offensive line. The Falcons have a very athletic, nasty offensive lineman in Schraeder. He's already shown to be a competent pass-blocker, but as a run-blocker, he didn't fit the power scheme.
With the zone-blocking scheme playing off his athleticism and minimizing the impact of his NFL-average strength, Schraeder could be in line for a career year. He's an underrated player who has earned a starting role to close out both the 2013 and 2014 seasons and should break out in 2015.
Considering Jon Asamoah and Joe Hawley are already solid fits for the zone scheme, Schraeder should have solid interior help in reaching his potential. Atlanta has a gem here in the former basketball player and should see excellent results from him in 2015.
Loser: Tyson Jackson
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Tyson Jackson is the biggest player who will see a reduction in snaps or may even be cut. With Dan Quinn coming into Atlanta, Jackson's role will be reduced to a two-down, strong-side end role if he wins the job versus Adrian Clayborn—a value free agent brought in who is a better fit at strong-side end.
Even then, he will be rotating out on nickel and dime sets and likely won't be relied on to attack the quarterback, as that's not his strength. Jackson's biggest strength comes when he can two-gap the strong-side offensive tackle and force plays one way or the other.
He's not a great penetrator and doesn't have the speed to hold up effectively as a one-gap 6-technique like the strong-side end will be asked to do in the majority of Quinn's schemes. Atlanta should cut its losses with Jackson and allow him to move on to a 3-4 team where he would be more effective.
Winner: Ra'Shede Hageman
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One of the biggest winners in the 2015 offseason for the Falcons is Ra'Shede Hageman. He's the likely starter at 3-technique defensive tackle on the weak side of the formation after the scheme change under Dan gave him an ideal role to fill and be effective in.
After sliding among the 5-technique defensive end, 1-technique nose tackle and 3-technique defensive tackle roles in 2014 and not being able to fully improve on one in particular, this role will allow Hageman to rely on his abilities in a much more simplified role.
All he really has to do is attack a gap every play. Normally, that gap will be a B-gap on the weak side of the formation and should allow Hageman to penetrate and create havoc in the backfield. By giving him an ideal role to work with, the Falcons have done Hageman a great service and could have great results from him.
All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro-day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.
Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He's also the Featured Draft Analyst for Pro Football Spot.
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