The Atlanta Falcons hope their defense makes strides under new head coach Raheem Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, despite not making the same level of investments on that side of the ball this offseason as the team did in 2023. Yet the Falcons defense should be able to take strides without those investments, due to the healthy returns of key starters like defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and linebacker Troy Andersen.
Andersen, especially, could fundamentally impact an improved Falcons defense in 2024. Andersen’s greatest asset is his athleticism, which gives him huge potential in coverage. He missed fourteen games last year due to a torn pectoral muscle and his absence changed how the Falcons played defensively.