The Atlanta Falcons needed pass rush help this offseason. Leonard Floyd needed a job.
They're now together in a match not made in heaven, but hopefully in the opposing backfield. That's where Lloyd plans to reside plenty in 2025, setting a new goal for his first season with the Falcons after signing a one-year deal earlier this month.
"Getting my highest amount of sacks in one season, that's my goal," Floyd said on Tuesday, via the team's official site. "It's always been my goal, every season."
Floyd's steady year-over-year production both transformed his reputation from an underwhelming former first-rounder to a consistent rusher and also earned him the job with the Falcons. He's logged 8.5 or more sacks in each of his last five seasons, twice breaking double digits with 10.5 in 2020 with the Rams and 2023 with the Bills.
In order to reach a new career high, he'd have to log 11 sacks in 2025, his age-33 season. But unlike in previous stops, he'll be playing on a defensive front that lacks another star.
No Aaron Donald. No Nick Bosa. No Von Miller, Ed Oliver or Greg Rousseau. Atlanta's most notable member of their defensive front, Matt Judon, remains a free agent. The Falcons' current front features a pair of proven veterans (Morgan Fox, David Onyemata) and a rising rusher in Arnold Ebiketie (6.0 sacks in each of his last two campaigns), but nobody with instant brand recognition. And while it improved later in the season, Atlanta's defense -- which hasn't had a player record a 10-sack season since 2016 -- still finished 31st in sacks per pass attempt (5.36 percent) last year.
It's the perfect scenario for Floyd to command attention. But that attention might also make the going more difficult for him.
Floyd is ready for the challenge.
"Picture third down," Floyd said. "Third-and-6. Third-and-7. It's time to get the quarterback. That's when I show up. That's what I'm here for."
The numbers back Floyd's confidence. After a slow start in Chicago, Floyd found his stride in Los Angeles, jumping from a four-year total of 18.5 sacks with the Bears to 29 over three seasons with the Rams. Of his 66.5 career sacks, 48 have come in 2020-2024.
"I was basically a pro becoming a pro," Floyd said of his sudden uptick in production. "Being more professional. Being more aware of my moves on third down. You know how you can just go out and play without knowing the move? It's basically studying your craft so hard that you know what moves you're doing and you know when the time is to do them."
With his tools sharpened and nine years of experience under his belt, Floyd believes he's prepared to use all of it to his advantage and help a Falcons defense that certainly needs a difference-maker up front. He's already preparing for what he hopes will be a memorable year.
"Next few weeks, I'm training with my trainer, working on my pass rush," Floyd said. "I'm big on game-type situations, so I always work on pass rushing. Work on pass rush, work on pass rush, work on pass rush. That's all I do."
