Todd Gurley could be exactly what the Atlanta Falcons need for next season

Thank goodness. Finally, there’s some uplifting news when we desperately need it.

At a time when the sports news is lean and relatively irrelevant comes this comforting breaking headline from ESPN:

“Todd Gurley joins Falcons a day after being cut by Rams”

Take that, Tampa Bay.

Sure, there are questions about the fitness of his left knee — especially important because he prefers to run to the left side. In 2017 and ‘18 combined, Gurley ran for 2,556 yards and 30 touchdowns and caught 123 passes for 1,368 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Last year, those numbers dropped to 857 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing and 31 catches for 207 yards and two TDs. The production drop off is due in part to Rams head coach Sean McVay’s’ decision to use Gurley more sparingly. But it’s fair to note that perhaps McVay’s decision was because he knew that Gurley was no longer the dominant player that he was the two previous seasons. He may not be the Todd Gurley we enjoyed watching hurdle or just run slap over defenders like they were high school players.

And there are football questions that remain unanswered.

Will the Falcons’ offensive line be effective enough to give Gurley — or any running back, for that matter — a fighting chance?

Can Gurley fit into an offense built around quarterback Matt Ryan and receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley?

For now, that doesn’t matter.

So far this offseason, the Falcons seem to be taking honest attempts at addressing their weaknesses. They will get offensive guard Chris Lindstrom back after he missed most of his rookie season with a foot injury. If they add another starting guard through free agency or the draft, the offensive line could be much more stable.

At best, the offensive line will not be dominant, but merely competent. So a power back like Gurley may be exactly what the Falcons need.

Devonta Freeman and Brian Hill combined for 979 rushing yards last season. So even a less explosive Gurley should be an upgrade.

But here’s another unanswered question:

What if Gurley IS fully healthy again? We’ve been watching him play for eight years, three at Georgia and five with the Rams. It’s easy to forget that he won’t turn 26 until August.

A healthy Gurley could be dynamic in an offense where defenses have to respect the passing game. Gurley’s receiving skills should not be overlooked. With Jones, Ridley and the emerging Russell Gage stretching the field in all directions, that could leave Gurley open coming out of the backfield.

In a week where the NFC South was filled with news — from Tom Brady going to Tampa Bay and Teddy Bridgewater signing with Carolina and New Orleans coach Sean Payton testing positive for COVID-19 — Gurley signing with the Falcons is less sensational than it might otherwise have been.

Come October, though, it might be the most impactful. Yes, even more impactful — again, potentially — than Brady going to the Bucs. Brady’s the greatest quarterback of all time, but he’s also going to be 43 years old in August. He showed signs of his age last season. As reckless as Jameis Winston is (30 interceptions), he still led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards and was second to MVP Lamar Jackson with 33 touchdown passes.

For a one-year gamble of $5 million, signing Gurley comes with no down side. The news generated some excitement among Falcons fans, as well as his college coach. Mark Richt, tweeted this shortly after the news broke:

“If I am a Falcons fan or a Georgia fan I am jumping for joy right now!! Welcome back Todd Gurley!”

Welcome back, indeed.