SE Atlanta News

For the first time since the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot addressed questions from local media regarding the state of the team. Three key topics emerged during this discussion.

**Responding to League's Anti-Tampering Decision**

In June, the league ruled that the Falcons would forfeit a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft due to improper contact with Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, and Charlie Woerner before the legal tampering window. The organization was fined $250,000, and Fontenot himself received a $50,000 fine.

"We take full accountability and we appreciate the league's process," Fontenot said. "We went through the whole process and we were very cooperative. We take full ownership of the penalty. And we don't take that lightly. We take it serious. We have to look at everything we do and make sure that we're operating at a high standard in every area."

When asked if losing a draft pick would alter their strategy for next year's draft, Fontenot responded negatively.

"We compartmentalize. We separate things. We say, 'OK, we're focused on the draft,'" he explained. "We participate and did everything the league needed us to do, and then we're just focused on the draft. But you kind of have to compartmentalize."

**An Honest Conversation About Quarterback Play**

Falcons owner Arthur Blank recently expressed optimism about the team's direction in 2024. When questioned about what aspect brings forth such optimism, Fontenot quickly pointed to the quarterback room.

"I think when you go out there and you see Kirk Cousins with the first team just lighting it up. And then you see (Michael) Penix come in with the next team, and he's lighting it up," Fontenot said. "Just being completely transparent, that room is different, and that makes a difference."

Fontenot emphasized that having a franchise-caliber quarterback like Cousins has made an immediate impact but also credited incremental team building over three seasons.

"We all have high standards because of what we see out there," he stated. "We have a lot of belief in this team... We want to represent our fans the right way."

**Inside The Process Of Cutting Down A Roster**

As training camp progresses towards roster cuts, Fontenot provided insight into how these decisions are made within the Falcons' organization.

According to him, both coaching staff and front office evaluate players individually rather than by position surplus when deciding who makes up their best 53-player roster.

"You always want to make sure that you're not cutting a player because of a position surplus," he said.

Fontenot added they prefer keeping standout players even if it means going heavy on certain positions while acknowledging challenges posed by new kickoff rules as something yet to be determined (TBD).

"We're building this team right... There's going to be a little TBD with [the new kickoff rules]," he concluded.