After multiple seasons of using a combination of middling veterans and untested young players, the Atlanta Falcons decided to go above and beyond in addressing the major flaws at the safety position. They pinpointed the best available free agent to be the new leader on the back end.
Landing Jessie Bates was a massive statement signing. It proved to be one of the best acquisitions in franchise history. In Ryan Nielsen’s aggressive scheme, the exceptional safety made consistent game-changing plays and brought solidity to an unsettled secondary.
As special as his season was, the safety position did endure limitations because of the lack of consistency opposite Bates.