NFC Notes: Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Falcons

• ESPN’s Michael Rothstein thinks the Falcons could flirt with a playoff spot or a top-five pick, it’s hard to get a read on exactly where their team stands in the first season under GM Terry Fontenot and HC Arthur Smith.
• Scott Bair of the team website writes that new Falcons RB Mike Davis is set up to be the feature back for the offense in 2021.
• However, he adds Atlanta is focusing on Cordarrelle Patterson as a running back after he played wide receiver at most of his prior stops. He’ll obviously continue to play a big role as a kick returner. 
• Bair expects both free-agent additions Erik Harris and Duron Harmon to start at safety to allow the Falcons to bring second-round S Richie Grant along slowly. 
• He adds veteran CB Fabian Moreau has a real chance to start at the No. 2 corner spot across from AJ Terrell.

Panthers

Panthers’ DE Brian Burns is excited to be paired with LB Haason Reddick, which he says will both take pressure off of him and create competition over who will get to the quarterback first.

“Haason Reddick is gonna make me go even harder because there’s going to be a little competition now in the room for who’s going to get the sack the fastest,” Burns said, via Pro Football Focus. “And also, he’s just going to take a lot of attention off of me … [the offensive line] is going to have to pick their poison.”

Saints

• According to Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald, the Saints freed up $5.56 million in cap space by extending RT Ryan Ramczyk, who signed a five-year, $96 million extension on Wednesday. 
• The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell notes Ramczyk’s deal has some interesting implications for Saints LT Terron Armstead, whose deal is set to void after this season. She says the Saints haven’t made their intentions with Armstead clear but a new deal for him would likely put him among, if not at the top of, the league’s highest-paid left tackles, meaning a $20 million a year price tag at minimum. 
• While the Saints have shown if they want to keep a player they’ll find a way, Terrell points out that with Ramczyk ($19.2 million per year) and G Andrus Peat ($15.5 million cap hit in 2022), they have already invested significantly on the offensive line. 
• If the Saints do let Armstead walk, Terrell says one possible solution would be to move Ramczyk to left tackle. 
• She adds she thinks at least one more extension will get done between either CB Marshon Lattimore or S Marcus Williams. However, Ramczyk’s deal lessens the need for cap space and New Orleans has already restructured Lattimore’s fifth-year option to create space. 
• Terrell expects the Saints to try and push as much cap space and salary out to 2023 as possible, as that’s when the league salary cap is expected to start rising again. 
• Ramczyk said he’s grateful to become the league’s highest-paid right tackle but will continue training hard: “Obviously, it’s awesome, but at the end of the day I’m going to go out and do what I always do, and train the way I do.” (Terrell)
• Ramczyk reiterated he’s “very happy” to get a deal done given he was entering the final year of his deal. (Nick Underhill)