Atlanta Falcons Urged To Clean House; Fire GM Amidst Abysmal Roster Construction
The Atlanta Falcons’ season has spiraled into a tailspin, marked by a five-game losing streak and devastating injuries to cornerstone players. Now sitting at 3-7, the team’s playoff hopes are extinguished, and the focus has shifted from on-field results to the leadership responsible for the roster’s collapse. While head coach Raheem Morris has faced his share of scrutiny, a growing chorus of criticism is being directed at General Manager Terry Fontenot, whose decisions have left the team exposed and directionless.
Atlanta Falcons Lose QB And Star WR
The recent loss to the Carolina Panthers was not just another defeat; it was a disaster that encapsulated the flaws in Fontenot’s roster construction. The Falcons saw their franchise quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., placed on injured reserve with a partially torn ACL, and star wideout Drake London went down with a significant knee injury. These injuries have shone a harsh spotlight on the team’s alarming lack of depth, a problem many believe Fontenot failed to address.
A Track Record of Questionable Decisions
Since taking over as GM in 2021, Fontenot’s tenure has been defined by a lack of success. The Falcons have not made the playoffs under his leadership and hold a dismal 32-46 record during his time at the helm. While his first-round draft picks—including Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Michael Penix Jr.—have been notable, his ability to build a complete and resilient roster has come under fire.
Critics point to Fontenot’s complacency at the trade deadline as a major misstep. Despite clear deficiencies at wide receiver and in the secondary, he stood pat. This decision proved costly when injuries to Dee Alford and Mike Hughes left the defensive backfield vulnerable, allowing opposing offenses to exploit the thin depth chart. Similarly, with London now sidelined, the receiving corps behind him—featuring Darnell Mooney and a cast of unproven players—looks ill-equipped to carry the load.
An Indictment on Roster Management
The fallout from the team’s current state is a direct indictment of Fontenot’s management. The decision to retain veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins instead of trading him now seems questionable, as the team is left with a 37-year-old signal-caller and a face of the franchise recovering from major surgery.
The core issue is that despite possessing high-end talent at several key positions, the Falcons have been held back by poor roster construction. The lack of quality depth has turned what could have been a competitive team into a fragile one, unable to withstand the inevitable challenges of an NFL season. As the team heads into a difficult offseason without a first-round draft pick and with major questions at quarterback, the pressure on Arthur Blank to make a change in the front office is mounting. For many fans, the current disaster is not just bad luck—it’s the consequence of a flawed vision.
