Atlanta released Steven Jackson last month, and Jacquizz Rodgers recently signed with Chicago. That leaves Atlanta with only 2014 fourth-rounder Devonta Freeman and the re-signed Antone Smith at running back. It won't be surprising if they add another one fairly early in the draft.

Maybe Freeman emerges as the starter (Atlanta has said some nice things about him recently). Whatever the case, Atlanta definitely needs to get more out of its running backs. Since Michael Turner was in his prime, the team's running backs -- almost all of them -- have put up some pretty sorry numbers.

Over the last four seasons, the team has used 3-4 different running backs in each season: Jackson, Rodgers, Smith, Freeman, Turner and Jason Snelling, a total of 14 rushing campaigns in all. Of those various seasons, only Turner back in 2011 and Smith the last two years (in very, very limited duty) have reached 4.0 yards per carry. Leaving out the Smith seasons (reasonable, since he averaged only 14 carries), that's 11 out of 12 running backs failing to reach 4.0 yards per carry.

Offensive line has been a problem, to be sure, but Atlanta also hasn't had very good running backs the last four seasons. If Freeman isn't the guy to change all that, the Falcons will need to have selected another back in the draft to step in.

Falcons running backs the last four years, sorted by yards per carry.

ATLANTA RUNNING BACKS, 2011-2014
YearPlayerAtt Yds TD Y/A
2013Antone Smith 5145229.0
2014Antone Smith 2314426.3
2011Michael Turner 3011340114.5
2012Jacquizz Rodgers 9436213.9
2014Devonta Freeman 6524813.8
2014Steven Jackson 19070763.7
2014Jacquizz Rodgers 5821713.7
2013Jason Snelling 4416413.7
2012Michael Turner 222800103.6
2011Jacquizz Rodgers 5720513.6
2013Steven Jackson 15754363.5
2013Jacquizz Rodgers 9633223.5
2012Jason Snelling 186303.5
2011Jason Snelling 4415103.4

--Andy Richardson