The Atlanta Falcons are beginning to eye the future of the franchise and which players could be a big part of it moving forward. With the playoffs out of reach and a six-game losing streak to their name, the Falcons do not have much to play for other than certain players are seeking futures with the franchise. Justin Hardy and Nick Williams are two of those players as they aim for more time on the field in the final three games.
According to head coach Dan Quinn via ESPN.com, the Falcons released Leonard Hankerson because he was not going to be part of the team's future. Hankerson quickly developed into Matt Ryan's second-favorite target when the team was undefeated to start the season. However, he quickly fell from grace with dropped passes before landing on injured reserve. The Falcons announced earlier in the week that he was released.
"Basically, it just came down to he wasn't going to be a part of our future plans," Quinn said, via ESPN.com.
With Hankerson out, Williams and Hardy understand they could be the players to help reshape the offense in the offseason. Both rookie receivers have seen time on the field as Williams has become a solid red zone target for Ryan when the Falcons actually managed to get down there. Hardy has been a little more quiet despite the preseason hype, but the team expects that to change in the final three games.
Hardy was inactive for the first seven games of the season after getting drafted in the fourth round, but since getting time on the field he has 12 catches for 109 yards. The Falcons are aiming for youth in the receiving corps with Roddy White on his way out and they need Hardy to develop into something special. Ryan is confident that the more time the receiver gets on the field, the better he becomes.
"It hasn't been good [around the team], but there's some silver linings and Justin's been a guy that I think is getting better," Ryan said, via ESPN.com. "He made a great catch last week on a third down, a one-handed catch coming across the middle. As he continues to get more comfortable, I think you're going to see how good his hands are and just how savvy a football player he is."
The Falcons will be looking to make adjustments in free agency and in the draft. NFL analysts have the team linked to everyone from a wide receiver to Alabama defensive star Reggie Ragland in the first round of the draft. The development of Williams and Hardy could dictate some of those moves. With the run game set, the Falcons will focus on youth at the receiver position and getting an elite tight end to help Ryan in the coming year.
