Calais Campbell

The Falcons addressed offense in free agency. The draft will let them add to the defense as we do in this seven-round mock draft.

Howell, the new executive director, has crisscrossed the country to meet with the players on all 32 NFL teams, and 20 of the 32 owners.

Both of the Falcons' starting defensive ends are free agents. Will Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree return to play for Morris?

The Falcons fired Smith just hours after he fell to 21-30 in three years with the team. His offense never took flight in Atlanta.

Smith was salty and owner Arthur Blank was silent after the Falcons were embarrassed 48-17 by the Saints on Sunday.

The Atlanta Falcons (7-9) will make the playoffs if they beat New Orleans and the Carolina Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Despite losing three of their past four games, the Falcons still have slim playoff hopes. They need to beat the Saints and get help.

"There’s a million factors ..." Blank said Sunday. "You have to represent the franchise, the fans, the players, the coaches — everybody."

The Falcons have just an 11 percent chance of making the playoffs in coach Arthur Smith's third season.

Ridder had one passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown, one interception and one fumble in a killer loss to the Bucs.

The Falcons lost for the third time in four games, this time against a quarterback, Josh Dobbs, taking his first snaps with his team.

The Falcons won on the road for the first time in more than a year and moved into first place in the NFC South with a 16-13 win Sunday.

Desmond Ridder had his second straight 300-yard passing game, but three interceptions cost the Falcons a chance to beat the Commanders.

The Falcons suffered their first loss of the season Sunday, falling 20-6 to the Lions in Ford Field.

Campbell, a 16-year veteran, is one sack away from 100 on his career. He plans to hit the “Dirty Bird” to celebrate.

The Falcons released their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, but changes could come as early as Wednesday.

The Falcons will open with their starters on the field when they face the Bengals on Friday in the second preseason game for both teams.

The Atlanta Falcons, or at least some of them, will play the Miami Dolphins in their preseason opener on Friday in Miami Gardens, Fla.