The Atlanta Falcons are heading into the regular season with new goals and aspirations. The team has been on the outside looking in for some time now; however, this season feels different. Much of that change depends on Jessie Bates mentoring the young players.
“Bates' mentorship is crucial for the Falcons, who will likely field a very young defense in 2025. Walker and fellow pass rusher James Pearce Jr. were both first-round picks in April and will likely see a lot of playing time as rookies. The Falcons also drafted Watts and Billy Bowman Jr., a fourth-round pick who played safety in college and will play nickel corner in Atlanta,” ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote.
On Thursday morning, the Falcons made a signing to bolster their cornerback room by bringing in C.J. Henderson.
“Once the deal is done, it will mark a return to the NFC South for Henderson. He joined the Panthers in a midseason trade in 2021 and had 128 tackles, two interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 39 games for the team,” Pro Football Talk’s Joseph Alper wrote.
Despite this signing, Bleacher Report’s Kevin Knox believes the Falcons could add another veteran cornerback contributor by Week 1.
“Douglas may want to find familiarity this late in the summer, which could lead him to the Atlanta Falcons. Falcons assistant head coach Jerry Gray and secondary coach Justin Hood both spent time with Douglas on the Green Bay Packers' 2022 staff,” Knox wrote. “Douglas signs with the Falcons ahead of Week 1.”
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Douglas has been searching for a team all summer, mainly holding talks with the Dolphins. The Falcons would welcome his addition and hope he can showcase his ballhawking skills. Although he is a veteran and on the older side, Douglas remains extremely reliable and productive.