Tori McElhaney answers your questions.

Tori McElhaney

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Well, y'all. We did it. We made it through the 2025 NFL Draft. And can I just say, this may be the most fun I have had covering a draft since I have been with the organization.

I genuinely think the Falcons got an absolute stealon Jalon Walker at No. 15 overall, Xavier Wattsat No. 96and Billy Bowman Jr.at No. 118. That's not to mention the Falconsmoving up in the first roundto get James Pearce Jr., who Falcons brass was very convicted about. In all, I do believe the Falcons acquired (potentially) four defensive starters this year, which is exactly what they needed, truth be told.

So, how did the 2025 NFL Draft change the Falcons' roster needs? Let's discuss.

David H. from Marshalltown, Iowa

Now that the dust is settling from the draft, do you think any of our new players shut the door on the return of free agent players who were on the team last year, such as Justin Simmons?

Unfortunately, I do fear the acquisition of Jordan Fuller in free agency and Xavier Watts in the draft has shut the door on a Justin Simmons return. In my mind, Watts is a starter alongside Jesse Bates III. Fuller and DeMarcco Hellams are your reserves and then someone like a Micah Abernathy could be a practice squad guy for you, if not someone in this UDFA class. Safety to me is no longer a huge need to fill.

Now, if the Falcons came out of the draft without someone who had the potential of starting with Bates, then, yes. I could see a word in which Simmons returns. I have nothing but respect for Simmons, and I feel confident the coaching staff felt the same, even though he didn't have the production we have known him to have in previous years. At this point, though, the Falcons don't have a safety need, nor do they have a bunch of funds to re-sign him to a deal that someone of his caliber may require. So, for all of those seasons: I'm out.

(Yes, I have been watching Shark Tank).

Ronald S. from Port Orange, Florida

Short and sweet, is it pretty safe to say Kirk Cousins stays in Atlanta next season as a backup? If we gotta pay him anyway, why go and find and pay another back up.

Yep. That's the whole point of what Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot have been saying from the start.As Terrin Waack wroteearlier this week, the way the quarterback market looks post-draft does not favor a landing spot for Cousins. Quarterback rooms are filling up, and there really isn't much space on rosters for Cousins at the current juncture.

That's not to say there won't be later on. But right now? Not looking likely. Which is what the Falcons have been saying all along.

Fontenot confirmed last week before the draft that Cousins did report to the Falcons voluntary OTA workouts. Asked about this Wednesday, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said that despite what's been reported elsewhere, Cousins is the same guy he's been.

"We coach the guys that are here, and Kirk is on the team. So, we are going to coach him like every other player that we have," Robinson said. "Certainly understand the things that have been out there, but Kirk has been great in the building each time he has been here. You know Kirk as a person. He is not divisive and those things. I would anticipate that when he is here he will be the best teammate to the guys, to the coaches, and he will just try to improve as a player. What can we improve on with some of the things last year knowing that he is still one snap away."

Because regardless of what has happened to this point, while Cousins is on the roster, Robinson's last sentence is truth.

Guy M-J. from Madrid, Spain

Hi there Tori, I feel that the other position that people are not talking about is our tight end.

Sadly, for whatever reasons, it doesn't seem like Kyle Pitts will deliver on his promise and high draft pick (any insight to what has happened there?), Charlie Woerner is a great, traditional, block-first tight end but after that? ... We need more. What do you think?

I am actually OK with where the tight end room is right now. Woerner continues to be one of the most underrated players on this offense, and coaches believe Pitts is going to take a step in a contract year.

"I am expecting Kyle to take a big jump in Year 2 of the system, Year 2 of understanding what we are trying to do offensively, all those things that come with it," Robinson said. "So, expecting a lot of good things from Kyle. He knows what he needs to work on, the details and some of the fundamentals, techniques, the consistency down in and down out those are things we talk about with him, Coach (Kevin) Koger talks about with him all the time. It is those finer details and that next level that he can take as a player.

"I am pumped for Kyle. Can't wait to get on the field with him. Its going to be a lot of fun to see his growth."

Also, someone I would keep my eye on this offseason is UDFA signing Joshua Simon from South Carolina. To go along with players like CB Cobee Bryant, OL Joshua Grey and WR Nick Nash, I think the signing of Simon was a boost and let's be honest, maybe a little bit of a steal considering his production in his senior season with the Gamecocks.

Last year, Simon became the only tight end in South Carolina football history to lead the team in receptions (40), receiving yards (519) and receiving touchdowns (7) in a single season. I, for one, am curious to see if he can push for a roster spot with this team in 2025. He's on my list of players to watch throughout rookie minicamp in a couple weeks.

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