Atlanta Falcons: Full Position Breakdown & Depth-Chart Analysis at Wide Receiver
The Atlanta Falcons have one of the better wide receiver depth charts in the NFL. Since his arrival in Atlanta, Julio Jones has shown All-Pro abilities, while Roddy White has been a top-five receiver at points during his career. The Falcons did lose Harry Douglas this offseason, but they have replaced him with better options.
They drafted Justin Hardy from the East Carolina Pirates in the fourth round, brought in Leonard Hankerson through free agency and also have the unbridled potential that Devin Hester has never fulfilled. After them, there are quite a few other talented players who will be competing for roster spots or even practice-squad roles in 2015.
Julio Jones
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Role: Featured Receiver
Julio Jones is arguably the best receiver in the NFL. With Kyle Shanahan running the offense, he'll make sure that Jones gets a ton of targets and is the primary featured receiver. Jones has great speed, agility and strength, and he is a prototypical receiver.
His route running is excellent, and his blocking is good as well. Atlanta will try to get the ball into its best offensive player's hands as often as possible in 2015 and should see great results as long as the fifth-year player out of Alabama is healthy.
The biggest thing that has slowed Jones down throughout his career is his health and lack of ability to play all 16 games in a season. If Jones can play all 16 games and is 100 percent for the whole year, he could have a monster season of over 1,700 yards and 10-plus touchdowns.
Roddy White
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Role: Possession Receiver
The Falcons won't have Roddy White play the same kind of role that he's played throughout his career as a true No. 2 or even a true No. 1. The team will ask White to play a possession-style receiver role similar to what Andre Johnson played toward the end of his career for the Houston Texans.
Atlanta will primarily ask White to line up and attack the intermediate parts of the field instead of the deep and outside parts the way he did early in his career. His exceptional route running will be his biggest asset in 2015. But White will have to improve his hands.
For much of his career, he's had issues with catching the ball consistently. The Falcons will be relying on him as a primary third-down target and need him to get open and catch the ball for those crucial drive-sustaining first downs.
Devin Hester
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Role: Slot Receiver and Kick Returner
When it comes to high-potential contributors, Devin Hester has had the ability to become one during his entire career. During the 2014 season, he looked like a legitimate slot receiver threat after former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter finally schemed ways to use him within the offense.
In 2015, new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will be tasked with maximizing the talented return specialist as a wide receiver. With Matt Ryan throwing him the ball and more chemistry coming from that connection, Hester should continue to show improvement on the field even if he isn't the primary slot receiver.
His biggest asset to the Falcons will still come as a return specialist, but he should provide a ton of talent at receiver—where the Falcons will need someone to step up in the absence of Douglas after his release this offseason.
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Justin Hardy
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Role: Slot Receiver
Justin Hardy is a receiver who was so good in college that he could've gotten his pathetic excuse for a quarterback—Shane Carden—drafted. Hardy is an underrated receiver, considering what his fourth-round draft slot would indicate, and he is a poor man's Wes Welker in terms of how he plays.
Hardy could wind up being a unique asset in the slot for the Falcons and should fit in well with the combination of West Coast and screen concepts that should utilize his short-area quickness. Hardy has the talent to potentially start over Roddy White in 2016 or 2017 if he can develop quickly.
Leonard Hankerson
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Role: Competing for a Slot Receiver Role
The Falcons went out and signed Leonard Hankerson to compete at the bottom of the roster in 2015 for a role as the slot receiver. However, Hester and Hardy are better fits for Shanahan's scheme than Hankerson is.
And, yes, that's despite the fact that Hankerson has played in the scheme before (for the Washington Redskins). Hankerson has trouble staying healthy and isn't a top receiver even when he is healthy. He's a better athlete than Douglas is and will fight for the ball, but he's so unrefined in the technical aspects that he'll have to make an impact on special teams to make the roster.
Eric Weems
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Role: Reserve Wide Receiver and Special Teams Ace
Eric Weems has made his name through the years as a pure special teams ace who will occasionally play wide receiver. In 2015, his role shouldn't be much different than it was in 2014. The Falcons know what they have in Weems and will likely keep him unless someone else can show that he is better.
And that someone would have to be head-and-shoulders better than Weems—not just as a receiver but also as a gunner on punt and kick coverage. Weems is a great returner who can fill in if an injury forces Hester out of action for any period of time.
Bernard Reedy
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Role: Competing for a Roster Spot
The speedy Bernard Reedy is one of the more unique players on the Falcons. Atlanta has needed a deep threat to complement Julio Jones since drafting him in 2011. Reedy can burn almost any defense deep with his great long speed and should be able to make an impact on special teams.
However, he'll have to beat out Weems or Hankerson for a roster spot, and to do that, he'll have to show the ability to be an effective gunner on special teams. Reedy is an ideal developmental slot receiver, and should he be able to earn the roster spot, Atlanta could have a fast and physical offense this year.
Carlton Mitchell
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Role: Competing for a Roster Spot
Carlton Mitchell is a former member of the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars, and he has also played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL. During his NFL career, he's caught a combined three catches for a total of 31 yards. He's been a journeyman throughout his career despite being a bigger and quicker receiver than most.
While his size (6'3", 215 lbs), speed and overall athletic abilities are intriguing, he's still not a polished prospect as a receiver and needs a lot of work before he can make an impact on the field. He'll have an uphill climb against the current talent at the position.
As of now, he looks like a camp body.
Freddie Martino
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Role: Competing for a Roster Spot
Freddie Martino was able to earn a roster spot late in the season after playing on the practice squad for most of the year. Martino has a ton of natural ability and production at the college level, and he could be a story similar to Miles Austin if he reaches his potential.
He will have a tough time making the roster in 2015, though. The Falcons are deep at receiver, and Martino looks to be toward the bottom end of the roster. Martino has skills, though, and could find himself contributing on an NFL roster soon enough.
Marquez Clark
10 of 11Role: Competing for a Roster Spot
Marquez Clark played for a small school at Central Oklahoma. He's mediocre, based on his film, and looks like a true camp body. He's unlikely to make the team.
Nick Williams
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Role: Competing for a Roster Spot
Nick Williams couldn't stick with a Washington receiver group that was half as talented as this one. He's a camp body.
All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN.com, CFBStats.com 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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