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Offseason in three or fewer words: They. Need. Everything.

Look at a position on the roster, and in terms of either depth or a starter, they need some help there before the 2022 season begins -- from potential massive overhauls in the pass rush and at wide receiver, to the potential start of a quarterback succession plan, to figuring out who is going to run the ball and block for Matt Ryan. Even the specialists -- with kicker Younghoe Koo a restricted free agent and punter Thomas Morstead and snapper Josh Harris unrestricted free agents -- remain somewhat uncertain. Expect turnover. A lot of it. -- Michael Rothstein

The Falcons were a 7-10 team that mightily overachieved. With so much work to do on both sides of the ball it's hard to know where they should start. The defense needs a major talent infusion, notably in the department of pass rush, while the offense has to figure out what it wants to be with the 36-year-old Matt Ryan still in the mix. Ryan's contract, cap hit and sentimental importance to the franchise combine to form a recipe that likely keeps him in town, but he needs at least one more foundational piece on offense beyond Kyle Pitts, especially with Cordarrelle Patterson heading for free agency. Some clarity on the murky situation surrounding Calvin Ridley would be helpful.

They might have one more season with Matt Ryan at quarterback. So it might be time to draft that replacement.

They're in a weird football purgatory, Atlanta apparently continuing to move forward with soon-to-be-37-year-old QB Matt Ryan, who would cost the team $40+ million to trade or release before June 1.

The Falcons move into another offseason in which the biggest question is about their long-term plan at quarterback. Last year, Atlanta committed to another year of Matt Ryan, but it's hard to imagine the Falcons letting this entire spring (with free agency and, especially, the draft) pass without making a significant move to find his eventual successor. Ryan, who turns 37 in May, is under contract for two more seasons, and $7.5 million of his 2022 salary becomes guaranteed on March 18.