Most improved position groups during the 2023 NFL offseason

Defensive line – Atlanta Falcons

Additions: David Onyemata, Calais Campbell, Bud Dupree, Zach Harrison & Ikenna Enechukwu

Subtractions: Abdullah Anderson, Anthony Rush, Jaleel Johnson & Matt Dickerson

Falcons defensive linemen David Onyemata, Calais Campbell and Zach Harrison

Before we get to the changed personnel on Atlanta’s defensive line, we have to first quickly address the altered front dynamics. Over the last two years under Dean Pees as defensive coordinator, this has been one of the talent-void units in the league.

They did run a hybrid scheme in terms of the front- and back-end, but generally the principles were based on a three-down line with several long bodies they would rotate through. Although the sudden retirement of recently-signed Eddie Goldman left them without a true nose tackle they wanted to play extensively – an issue they’ve had for a long time now.

In fact, the only D-linemen to play at least 42% of snaps last season was Grady Jarrett. With the DC change to Ryan Nielsen, while the base on paper may still be a 3-4, I’d expect a lot more even fronts in nickel sets, where they slide Calais Campbell out to a strong-side six-technique, while they have one of those smaller outside linebackers by designation in a wider alignment across from it.

I really don’t have that much to say about the four guys they lost or rather let walk here. It’s far from the end-all-be-all, but let me just quickly the list where those names ranked among all 423 defensive linemen in terms of PFF grade who played at least one snap – Abdullah Anderson 172nd, Anthony Rush 343rd, Jaleel Johnson and Matt Dickerson tied for 366th.

So let’s just transition to the new additions and I’ll group the two veterans on the interior primarily together. 30-year-old David Onyemata was signed for three years at 35 million dollars (24.5M of that guaranteed) and Calais Campbell – after deciding to come back for his age 37 season – was surprisingly waived by Baltimore and signed for a year at seven million.

The former is coming off a slight down year with a PFF grade of just 64.0, but the two years prior he finished top-ten among interior defensive linemen (88.2 and 81.9). Across these past three seasons, Onyemata has combined for 17 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and 76 total pressures across his 1065 pass-rush snaps. While he’s spent the majority of snaps in the B-gap, but he is capable of dealing with the angular element of combos from shaded alignments and you get some interchangeability with Grady Jarrett.

Meanwhile, Campbell has put together a pretty crazy career arc, where he seemingly improved every year in Arizona and then put up elite numbers throughout his three seasons in Jacksonville (198 total pressures across 1,509 pass-rush snaps), before still being a highly useful player when healthy in Baltimore, where the numbers may not quite be up to par, but he still earned PFF grades of 80.8 and 77.2 respectively these last two years.

He offers a ton of flexibility in terms of using his force to win the B-gap, and sets a physical edge or two-gap when they do run even fronts. On passing downs, both guys have been effective as set-up man on different twists and games.

The Falcons also signed Bud Dupree for one year at a three-million-dollar price tag. He’s coming off two very disappointing seasons in Tennessee after signing a five-year, 82.5-million dollar contract, putting up his lowest pressure totals (29 and 24 respectively across just under 300 pass-rush snaps) since getting hurt in his second season. But before that, he racked up at least 40 total pressures in each of his final four years in Pittsburgh.

Since his knee issues, he’s struggled to get low and flatten at the top of his rush to some degree, but as more of a power-rusher to condense the corner, he could be a useful piece for a more twitchy edge rusher across from him in Arnold Ebiketie to cash in on. And he’s generally a plus dealing with tight ends in the run game at 270 pounds.

And then we have to quickly address the rookies. Zach Harrison was drafted 76th overall as a guy that has that more traditional five-technique body type at nearly 6’6”, 275 pounds with 36 and ½-inch arms, but he’s played on the edge throughout his time at Ohio State.

He received PFF grades of 84.0 and 86.1 in his two seasons as a starter, racking up 56 combined pressures across 501 pass-rush snaps. His length to lock out against solo blockers and free himself late as a rusher is apparent. The other guy that I wanted to mention here is Ikenna Enechukwu – an undrafted free agent out of Rice. Across his final two seasons, he put together 18.5 tackles for loss and 62 pressures across 700 pass-rush snaps, while transitioning from three-technique to more of a 5-/6-technique this past year.

He’s a bit of a long shot to make the roster, but his violent hands and relentless motor are what made me outline him as a potential impact UDFA in an article a good month ago.

Honorable mentions: Cleveland Browns & Houston Texans