Raheem Morris, head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, talks about struggling fourth-year safety Richie Grant. Safety Richie Grant’s role is probably not one of the first things that springs to mind when thinking back on the Atlanta Falcons’ 2023 season, at least not in a good way. Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked Grant as the 89th safeties out of 95 qualified players. Alternatively, one might think about the quarterback carousel, Arthur Smith’s dismissal as head coach, or the poor 7-10 season that was spoiled by four defeats in the last five games. However, Grant’s abrupt transition from a reliable starter to an infrequently used rotational player and member of the special teams is perhaps related to Atlanta’s narrative from the previous season. Ultimately, seventh-round rookie DeMarcco Hellams replaced Grant, a 2021 second-round pick who started all nine games in 2022 and did not miss a defensive snap in the first nine games of 2023. After Atlanta’s Week 11 bye, the team started using more three-safety looks. Although Grant played at least 75% of the defensive snaps in the team’s first three games after that, his position started to shift. Grant only participated in 11%, 38%, and 42% of the Falcons’ defensive snaps in Weeks 14 through 16. Atlanta’s back-end operations were managed by Hellams and Jessie Bates III. Grant had been put on hold. However, Grant played every snap in Week 18 as Hellams was sidelined due to a concussion, recording 10 tackles, one sack, and one tackle for loss. By all accounts, Grant’s dismal and unpredictable season was similar to the Falcons’ entire experience; nonetheless, Raheem Morris, the new head coach, thinks Grant’s future holds more promise. Morris added, “I told Richie that I was wrong about him when I got here.” I had underestimated his skill as a player. Additionally, he plays incredibly well, performs effectively, and makes hard tackles. Obviously, I was in a different position when I assessed him. AN ADVERT “However, he’s shown me a tonne of excellent stuff on tape.” With 103 tackles, the 26-year-old Grant completed the previous season tied for fourth on the team in tackles; just four Falcons, including linebackers Nate Landman and Kaden Elliss, surpassed the 100-tackle threshold. The 6-0, 200-pound Grant also added an interception, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and six passes defensed. According to Pro Football Reference, he failed in pass coverage, allowing 39 receptions for 543 yards and six touchdowns on just 57 targets. When throwing to Grant, opposing quarterbacks completed 68.4% of their passes. When evaluating Grant’s worth since moving to Flowery Branch three years ago, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot cited Grant’s immediate influence on special teams. In 12 of the 16 games in which he made his debut as a rookie, Grant played at least 80% of the special teams snaps. His rise to starting safety had the opposite effect on his function in the third phase of the game, but at the end of the previous season, he went back to his starting position. Grant played at least 59% of the Falcons’ special teams snaps in the final six games, while only surpassing 50% in the first 11. Looking back to Grant’s early years in Atlanta, Fontenot thinks the native of Lumberton, Mississippi, has a steady floor as a standout on special teams. Given that Grant was viewed as the front-runner to be a cap casualty, this is especially important as the Falcons go with their offseason without him. OverTheCap claims that by eliminating Grant, Atlanta saves over $3 million while only accumulating $843,343 in dead money. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Grant’s position on the roster became a talking point in a league where every penny matters. However, the Falcons, who have multiple employees with strong secondary experience, have a plan for Grant, and Fontenot, a former Tulane safety, believes Jimmy Lake, the defensive coordinator, and Morris can help him realise it. Regarding Grant’s three sacks from the previous season, Fontenot stated, “Where Richie excelled more was playing near the line of scrimmage, doing some of those different things, pressuring.” “He needs to work on his coverage and other aspects of his game, but we have faith that he will work with Raheem and our backup coaches to get there.” Thus, even with the possible cap advantages, Grant’s position seems secure going into the summer, something that is further supported by the Falcons’ decision not to select a defensive back in the NFL Draft. Grant has a chance to record his third straight season with 100 tackles. It’s also possible that he is Bates and Hellams’ third wheel. It is true, though, that the Falcons like Grant and will give him every opportunity to prove it this summer.
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