Atlanta Falcons' 'Calculated Risk' Not Enough to Win NFC South? NFL Exec Makes Bold Prediction

Despite the free agent signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins, one NFL executive is still picking against the Atlanta Falcons to win the NFC South.

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After another offseason in which the Atlanta Falcons were big spenders in free agency, could it be enough to propel them toward ending their seven-year postseason drought and capturing their first NFC South division title since 2016?

While the oddsmakers in Las Vegas like the Falcons' chances, with the latest odds from DraftKings listing them as a -130 favorite, there is at least one anonymous NFL executive who thinks even with the free-agent addition, Atlanta hasn’t done enough. 

A recent article from The Athletic’s Mike Sando revealed the thoughts of two executives from other teams on the Falcons’ offseason. 

“I’d still go with Tampa right now,” the first executive said of Atlanta’s chances to win the NFC South. “I know the optics look good for Atlanta, but you have a new head coach, there will be a learning curve that comes along with that. The quarterback’s ability to get in the flow coming off an Achilles injury, we’ll see how that goes. It’s a calculated risk, but a risk nonetheless.”

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Signing a 35-year-old Kirk Cousins, who as the executive notes, is coming off a torn Achilles is certainly a risk. Not only because of injury and age but also in large part due to the four-year, $180 million given to him.

After three straight 7-10 seasons, which has allowed the Falcons to acquire three top-10 picks offensively in Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson, it seems general manager Terry Fontenot felt the time is now for Atlanta to push toward being in playoff contention. Which is what the second executive explained.

“Internally, when you are Minnesota and have a guy that is winning you games but not winning you Super Bowls, you want to get better,” the other executive said. “Externally, when you have been with a team like Atlanta that has not tasted the playoffs in so long, you go, ‘F—, if I had a guy like that!’ You think any coach in Atlanta is sitting there saying, ‘This guy is not going to help us’? They could not pass the ball last year.”

Consistency plagued the Falcons' passing game, as neither Desmond Ridder nor Taylor Heinicke could spark their offense. They hope Cousins can now provide. If the recent past has anything to show for it, the 35-year-old could give the Falcons one of the most consistent passers in the league.

Before his Achilles injury, Cousins threw 25 or more touchdowns in eight consecutive seasons, a feat only four other quarterbacks have achieved. If that is the level of play the Falcons get out of Cousins, it is hard to imagine that they will not make it to the postseason.