2. Atlanta Falcons
Falcons' 2020 first-round pick A.J. Terrell has not had a breakout season in the league. He is coming off a 2023 campaign where he had 34 solo tackles, 11 passes defended, and did not have an interception. Terrell now enters his fifth professional season, and Atlanta hopes this will be the year he finally turns it around.
The Falcons can expect second-year Clark Phillips III to start opposite Terrell this season, but he still needs to exceed expectations. Phillips is still unproven as he enters his second year in the NFL after having 22 solo tackles and five passes defended in 11 games last season. The Falcons will have Jessie Bates III and DeMarcco Hellams at the safety position.
Hellams is also coming off his rookie campaign, where he had 25 solo tackles and did not do much else, but Bates on the other hand could mentor him. The veteran safety will be the spark for this Falcons' secondary. The two-time Second-Team All-Pro enters his seventh year in the league and second with Atlanta after spending five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bates is also coming off a decent 2023 campaign, where he had 89 solo tackles, three forced fumbles, six interceptions, and 11 passes defended. Bates has succeeded with the Falcons and will look to replicate that performance again. But, it won't be enough to stop the Giants' offense. Danny Dimes will look to dominate Atlanta's inexperienced secondary.