Falcons Top 5 Under 25: Which Young Atlanta Stars Shine Brightest?
In this story:
The Atlanta Falcons fielded one of the youngest rosters in the NFL last season, boasting more players at or below 26 years old than anybody else league wide.
This offseason, the Falcons added several strong veteran presences, including defensive linemen Calais Campbell, Bud Dupree and David Onyemata, among others.
But Atlanta's core remains young, with 50 players on the roster this summer coming in at 25 years old or younger, even with a relatively small rookie class that features only six draftees and six undrafted signees.
Of those 50, who leads the way? Here's how SI's Falcon Report views it ...
1. A.J. Terrell
Can you believe Terrell is only 24?
Drafted at No. 16 overall in 2020, Terrell has been the Falcons' top corner since arrival and was named a second-team All-Pro in 2021; even with Atlanta's pass rush being lackluster, he's starred.
Terrell's largely been used as a boundary corner but has proven capable of shadowing and producing against opponents' top targets, asserting his ability as a true No. 1 corner.
With 24-year-old Jeff Okudah, an honorable mention on this list, now across from him and a pass rush poised to take a step forward in front of him this fall, Terrell will have the best surrounding environment he's had to date, and could certainly turn in his best season yet, as well.
Beyond his ability on the gridiron, Terrell has emerged as a leader in Atlanta's locker room and is a legitimate building block for the franchise moving forward.
2. Drake London
Fresh off a season in which he broke the Falcons' franchise record for receptions by a rookie with 72, London has already established himself as a difference maker on the perimeter - and could vault his name into some pretty nice company with a stout follow-up act this year.
After quarterback Desmond Ridder took over in Week 15, London went to a different level, hauling in 25 receptions for 333 yards; across a full season, that pace would put him at 106 receptions for 1,415 yards. London added four touchdown grabs as a rookie, though none came with Ridder.
It's important to note that London, who missed the final four games of his college career with a fractured ankle, was injured in the preseason opener and was largely limited throughout the remainder of training camp - his debut in Week 1 didn't necessarily come with a full load of preparation.
In essence, the 21-year-old has proven he belongs in the NFL, even with less-than-stellar circumstances around him ... and now has a chance to assert himself as one of the best young weapons in football.
3. Kyle Pitts
The record that London broke this past season was broken the year prior by Pitts, who had 68 receptions for 1,026 yards and one touchdown as a rookie, becoming only the second rookie tight end in league history to break the 1,000-yard barrier.
Pitts, still only 22, is coming off a statistically disappointing 2022 season in which he caught 28 passes for 356 yards and two scores across 10 games before suffering a torn MCL, but his level of play remained extremely high, even if his production doesn't necessarily reflect it.
Perhaps the most telling number is 33 - the number of passes thrown to Pitts by Marcus Mariota that Pro Football Focus deemed were uncatchable. Across 59 targets, that's an extremely high number, one made even more difficult to grasp considering Pitts' 83-inch wingspan.
But really, talking about numbers and quarterback play is doing a disservice to Pitts' ability as a football player - the Falcons know they have a special talent; the challenge now becomes putting him in the best position possible to maximize the return.
4. Bijan Robinson
Is this too high for Robinson, who's yet to even take a single snap with pads on as a professional? Perhaps ... or is it too low for Atlanta's first-round pick and the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018?
Maybe, just maybe, No. 4 is the right spot for Robinson at this moment. His talent is undeniable, and there's a very realistic chance he leads the Falcons in yards from scrimmage as a rookie.
Consider further that Pitts and London have set records in their rookie seasons, and the potential for a stellar season from Robinson becomes clear.
Is this a projection? Sure, Robinson hasn't taken a snap ... but he was also the Falcons player pictured on ESPN's promotional advertisement for the London game against the Jaguars, is viewed as an extremely safe bet to hit and should emerge as a game-breaking talent early in his time in Atlanta.
Should things work out as many expect they will for the 21-year-old Robinson, there's a high chance he's topping this list sooner rather than later - but for now, this feels like a happy medium.
5. Tyler Allgeier
Ironic, isn't it? Should Robinson break the Falcons' rookie rushing record for yards this season, he'll be besting Allgeier's 1,035 from last year.
As such, it can absolutely be argued that Allgeier's proven production warrants him the nod above Robinson, and there would be few complaints if that's the way someone opted to go ... but Robinson is expected to lead the way in Atlanta's backfield this fall and is viewed as the greater impact player moving forward.
Still, that doesn't take anything away from Allgeier, who finished second among rookies in rushing yards this past season and was truly outstanding during the season's final four games, taking 79 carries for 431 yards and two touchdowns while adding six receptions for 52 yards.
The Falcons aspire to have a positionless offense in which their best playmakers and featured, and even with the addition of Robinson, the 23-year-old Allgeier should remain an integral part of Atlanta's offense.
Remember - this is a team that finished third in the league in rushing at just under 160 yards per game last year and ran the ball as much as anybody, averaging nearly 33 attempts a game ... there will be opportunities aplenty, and Allgeier has already proven he doesn't need much to shine.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.
Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.
Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the Si.com team page here
