The Atlanta Falcons are aggressively building their offense for the 2022 NFL season.
First, they brought in Marcus Mariota on a two-year deal.
Then, they filled the holes in their roster via the NFL Draft.
They selected wide receiver Drake London in the first round to fill the void Russell Gage left.
The Falcons also drafted quarterback Desmond Ridder in round three and offensive guard Justin Shaffer in the sixth round.
Atlanta also picked up former BYU running back Tyler Allgeier in round five.
But with four players in their backfield depth chart, the Falcons released one of their veteran players.
Breaking: #Falcons are releasing RB Mike Davis, per source.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 2, 2022
NFL insider Jordan Schultz shared that the team released Mike Davis.
The Falcons signed the seven-year pro from South Carolina last season in hopes of becoming their top running back.
However, do-it-all player Cordarrelle Patterson took over his spot, making him expendable.
Davis had a decent season with the Falcons, finishing with 503 yards and three touchdowns.
It’s his third-best year after his 2020 output with the Carolina Panthers and his 2018 campaign with the Seattle Seahawks.
Aside from Atlanta, Carolina, and Seattle, Davis has also played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears.
Releasing Davis saved the Falcons $2.5 million in cap space.
A Peek At The Falcons’ Backfield Depth Chart
While Patterson will remain as Atlanta’s top running back, the backup position will be a competition between Allgeier and Damien Williams.
Likewise, drafting London might mean that Patterson will focus on being a running back.
In 2021, he had career-highs of 548 receiving and 618 rushing yards, to go with 11 total touchdowns.
But focusing on one position could earn him another Pro Bowl or All-Pro selection.
More importantly, his usage rate decreases which lessens the probability of getting injured.
NEXT: Desmond Ridder Has A Bold Promise For Falcons Fans