Atlanta Falcons Announce Offseason Program Dates, Start of OTAs
The Atlanta Falcons' first offseason programs under head coach Raheem Morris now have official start dates.
Atlanta will have its first day April 2, when players will enter team headquarters in Flowery Branch for workouts with the new strength staff.
Voluntary minicamp follows thereafter, running from April 22-24, before leading into the 2024 NFL Draft, which takes place April 25-27 in Detroit.
The Falcons haven't announced when they'll hold their rookie minicamp, but teams across the league have two windows - the first goes from May 3-6 and the second from May 10-13.
After rookie minicamp, Atlanta begins OTAs. Here's a look at the OTAs schedule ...
May 13-14
May 16
May 20-21
May 23
June 3-4
June 6
Atlanta concludes its early phase June 10-12, when it conducts mandatory minicamp in Flowery Branch before entering the dead period leading into training camp.
The Falcons haven't yet announced when training camp begins, but Morris started July 25 and July 24 over the past two years with the Los Angeles Rams, and Atlanta could follow a similar path.
Perhaps the biggest question Atlanta needs answering is the recovery timeline of quarterback Kirk Cousins, who underwent surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles on Nov. 1.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons at the start of free agency and is making $90 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, indicating Atlanta's optimistic in Cousins' health.
Speaking at his introductory press conference March 13, Cousins offered insight as to where he's at in the recovery process.
"I can take drops. I can play the quarterback position, if you will, throwing the football," Cousins said. "I think the minute I would have to leave the pocket is where you’d say, ‘Yeah, he’s still recovering from an Achilles.’ But taking drops, making throws, that’s really no problem at this point."
The Falcons won't hurry Cousins, but they'd like him back to build chemistry - and the opportunity to do so begins shortly.