Ricardo Allen

Allen was placed on injured reserve after tearing his Achilles during a Week 3 loss to New Orleans - the last straw on the camel's back for a Falcons defense that was already depleted at the time. A former practice squad player who scratched and clawed his way toward the 53-man roster over the course of 16 months, Allen has since developed into one of the more reliable safeties in the NFL. He recorded an interception during his first career start, and from that point proceeded to suit up for 48 of the Falcons' next 50 games, displaying remarkable durability and building himself into one of the team's most prominent locker room leaders along the way. One has to wonder how explosive he can be coming off a severe (and often lingering) injury, but Allen was putting up numbers early last season that would have resulted in a career year had he been able to maintain his level of play. Extrapolating his statistics from Weeks 1, 2 and 3 out through 16 games, Allen was on pace for 91 tackles, 16 pass deflections and five interceptions. His previous career bests through three seasons were 90 tackles, five pass deflections and three interceptions.

From a statistical standpoint, Allen regressed in a number of categories last season, collecting a career-low 54 tackles and recording just one interception after totaling seven regular-season and postseason interceptions between 2015 and 2016. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old safety remains a reliable presence in the Atlanta secondary, where he started 45 of the team's 48 regular-season contests the past three years. It remains to be seen whether Allen is part of the Falcons' long-term plans, as he'll be playing under a $2.9 million restricted free agent tender that guarantees no commitment from the team past 2018.

Allen quietly continues to impress as he heads into his fourth season in the league and is set to start at strong safety again for the Falcons. Last season he notched 90 tackles, three passes defensed and two interceptions in 16 games. While he's not the flashiest player, Allen only failed to record less than four tackles in one game last season, and his 1,101 snaps gave him the highest defensive snap count on the team. If he continues to grow in Dan Quinn's defense, Allen could be primed for a breakout season.

Allen started at free safety for the Falcons in 2015, racking up 69 tackles, three interceptions and a sack over the course of 15 games. He's expected to anchor the position again this season, and he should benefit now that he's got a year of Dan Quinn's system under his belt. 70 to 80 tackles and a few interceptions seems like an attainable target for Allen this season.

Allen will contend for the starting free safety role as training camp begins. He'll battle with Charles Godfrey and Kemal Ishmael for that honor, but the winner will certainly have plenty opportunities to put up big defensive numbers in a defense that's hoping to improve on a disastrous 2014 campaign.

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