While the Atlanta Falcons, just like all other NFL teams will be searching for ways to improve in the 2016 offseason, that doesn't mean this team doesn't have quite a bit of talent on their roster. Last week, we broke down the top five needs for Atlanta this offseason, and now we'll change up the direction just a bit.
Let's evaluate the seven players who could be the building blocks of future success for the Falcons in the 2016 season. Who better to start with than one of the best wide receivers in the NFL?
1. Julio Jones
Jones is fresh off a year in which he caught 136 passes for 1,871 yards and eight scores. His yardage total ranks second in NFL history for a single season, behind only Calvin Johnson. There's no reason to believe that Jones won't be the go-to option offensively once again in 2016. In three of his five years in the NFL, Jones has played at least 15 games, and in those years he has a total of 319 receptions for 4,662 yards and 24 touchdowns. Jones is the game-changer that can literally put the team on his back at times.
2. Devonta Freeman
What can you say about the former Florida State running back? He took over the backfield for the Falcons and showed serious signs of a very bright future. On the year, he finished up with 1,639 combined rushing and receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns. His 73 receptions were the second most on the team behind only Jones.
Tevin Coleman is likely to make his push this offseason for more carries. In 2015 though, Coleman received just 87 rushes, 20 which came before Freeman was named the starter and 35 when Freeman was sidelined with a concussion. If the Falcons don't want to slow down Freeman's workload, he could be in for a huge 2016 season.
Devonta Freeman is quickly becoming one of the offensive leaders in Atlanta.
3. Vic Beasley Jr.
Beasley didn't hit his lofty goal of double-digit sacks during his rookie year, but for a guy playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder all season, he had a pretty strong start to his career. Beasley finished up the year with 26 combined tackles, four sacks, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one interception. Beasley's upside is there, and with one more offseason of work, there's no reason to believe he can't push that goal of double-digit sacks.
Expect the Falcons to attempt to find some additional pass-rush help this offseason, which could also benefit Beasley in a big way. Either way, seeing Beasley become one of the leaders of this defense in 2016 wouldn't be the slightest bit surprising.
4. Paul Worrilow
The 25-year-old linebacker for the Falcons deserves quite a bit of praise. Not only did he finish up the year with the most combined tackles (95), but he also had four passes defensed, two interceptions, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Worrilow is the defensive leader of the group, as well. One of those keys for the defense will continue to be Worrilow.
Worrilow has stepped up as a defensive leader for the Falcons.
5. Justin Hardy
There aren't gaudy stats to talk about when it comes to Hardy, but one thing we can talk about is consistency. The soon-to-be second-year wide receiver became a strong safety valve for Matt Ryan down the home stretch of the season. Hardy played in just nine games this season, finishing with 21 receptions for 194 yards. He showed flashes of being a great option for this team, and I believe that with another offseason to work with Matt Ryan under his belt, he'll make a surprising impact in 2016.
6. Desmond Trufant
The man who needs no introduction. Trufant is a fan favorite in Atlanta, for good reason. He's yet another young, talented player (he's only 25), who produces in a big way. This season Trufant finished with 42 combined tackles, 11 passes defensed, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one touchdown. He's a player who can consistently go up against the top receiver on opposing offenses and can be relied on to do a solid job.
7. Ricardo Allen
The 2014 fifth-round pick out of Purdue put together 68 combined tackles (third most on the team), with five passes defensed, three interceptions, one sack and one fumble recovery. Allen is young, showed massive signs of a bright future in 2015 and seems like he may be the future at free safety. Seeing what Allen can bring to the table for this defense was refreshing, and should make fans excited about the pure potential of Atlanta's secondary.
Jeff Smith writes about the NFL for FOX Sports. You can find him on Twitter @JSM8ith.
