Falcons Bringing 'Young, Fresh Energy' to Offense
This season, the Atlanta Falcons are set to field the youngest offensive lineup in the league. With the projected starters for Week 1, the average age of Atlanta's offense would be 24.9 years, surpassing the youth of any offense seen during the 2022 or 2021 seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Falcons wide receivers coach T.J. Yates embraces the team's youthful roster and sees it as an opportunity to infuse fresh energy into the offense.
"Sounds like a lot of young, fresh energy to me," receivers coach T.J. Yates said via ESPN. "That's probably the best way I can explain it. We don't have a very veteran-type offense, a lot of veteran players, but that's not necessarily a bad thing."
In the past three NFL drafts, the Falcons have firmly committed to implanting their roster with talented and young skill position players. This strategic approach is evident in their first-round selections, which have been dedicated to building a youthful core. In 2021, they chose tight end Kyle Pitts as the fourth overall pick, followed by wide receiver Drake London as the eighth overall pick in 2022. The trend continued in the 2023 draft with the selection of running back Bijan Robinson as the eighth overall pick.
As the 2023 season approaches, second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder, a 2022 second-round pick, is poised to take on the role of the Falcons' starting signal-caller for the first time in his career. With a talented nucleus comprising players like Pitts, London, and Robinson, Ridder has an exciting opportunity to develop his talents alongside these dynamic playmakers.
Follow Jacob Hare on Twitter.
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.
