As NFL Mix Week is in full pressure, head coaches and normal managers are making their first public appearances of the offseason. Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot have expressed some ideas about their imaginative and prescient for the draft whereas pondering personnel strikes for the long run. That features the tiresome saga surrounding Kirk Cousins’ standing and remarks about an harm suffered towards New Orleans.
There might be no dialogue concerning the veteran quarterback within the first roundtable of the offseason. Kevin Knight might be becoming a member of me to speak about extra urgent issues. Free company is quickly approaching. It’s time to start out assessing potential signings and pivotal roster selections.
If that is your first time studying a roundtable, the earlier version was revealed final month to finish the 2024 season.
What positional group supplies probably the most choices for the Falcons to handle a positional want in free company?
Kevin Knight: There are a couple of spots with good choices at cornerback, security, and linebacker. These positions look the deepest at first look. I’d have to decide on linebacker because of the worth usually present in free company.
The Falcons have been linked extensively to former Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood, however he’s only one choice. Nick Bolton, Cody Barton, Ernest Jones, E.J. Velocity, Justin Strnad, Jerome Baker…the listing goes on. A few of these gamers might be costly. In fact, they’re not all superstars. With restricted draft and wage cap assets, Atlanta might want to maximize worth to have any hope of patching all of the holes on the roster.
Allen Strk: The cornerback market is stuffed with high-quality starters. Regardless of investing closely within the secondary over the past two years by signing Jessie Bates and committing to A.J. Terrell long-term, upgrades are desperately wanted in different areas. There isn’t a succesful nickel nook on the roster following Dee Alford’s struggles inside all season. An ascending, versatile participant like Byron Murphy Jr. who loves being bodily and enjoying tight protection could be a terrific match.
If Murphy Jr. is just too costly, Bates might assist recruit an outdated teammate to be a reliable starter inside. Mike Hilton did present indicators of getting old in a discombobulated Cincinnati protection, however he stays one of many steadier nickel corners within the league. Nate Hobbs may very well be an alternative choice after his strong season in Las Vegas. There’s sure to be loads of nook expertise obtainable to be an instantaneous improve, notably within the slot. The entrance workplace ought to aggressively think about all of the obtainable choices.
A number of edge rushers and inside tackles on the roster might be getting into free company. If one participant needed to be re-signed for depth functions, who ought to it’s?
Kevin Knight: Sadly, not one of the free brokers are all that vital to the group’s 2025 plans. I’d most likely prioritize bringing again Eddie Goldman on the inside and James Smith-Williams exterior. Each proved to be high quality rotational items. Atlanta might do a lot worse than bringing them again to spherical out the depth chart.
Allen Strk: Smith-Williams performed with spectacular ferocity and method at occasions earlier than struggling a season-ending leg harm. There have been performs the place he set the sting extraordinarily nicely to make a run cease for a minimal achieve. The ability he brings is a helpful asset, particularly when enjoying in base or with a five-man entrance. In the event that they wish to hold a gradual edge defender on the roster who holds up nicely towards the run, Smith-Williams proved he can excel in that position.
There’s a case to be made for Ta’Quon Graham however accidents have plagued him for many of his profession. He hasn’t transformed flashes of disruption into constant manufacturing. Whereas Smith-Williams didn’t produce notable numbers, a strong run-defending edge participant is harder to seek out than a defensive sort out who can rotate between enjoying one and three tech. Ruke Orhorhoro and Zach Harrison are anticipated to take larger roles in these spots.
Is there a possible wage cap lower that the Falcons ought to critically pursue if the participant is on the market?
Kevin Knight: There’s an opportunity the Broncos might lower edge rusher John Franklin-Myers for cap financial savings. As part of their deep rotation, Franklin-Myers performed lower than 50% of the snaps however nonetheless managed seven sacks.
He’s acquired a historical past with Jeff Ulbrich from his time in New York and could be an apparent goal. The versatile edge rusher might not demand the large wage that different massive names will need on the open market.
Allen Strk: Though the Falcons will intention to get youthful on the line of defense after having seven gamers aged 28 years or older final season, each unit wants a couple of veterans up entrance. With David Onyemata destined to be a cap casualty and Grady Jarrett’s unsure future, the Falcons’ inside may very well be drastically totally different. Signing Javon Hargrave is dangerous given his age and harm historical past, however there’s no denying the upside with a participant of his caliber.
Hargrave is an extremely disruptive inside pressure. The mixture of getting nasty energy, hand utilization, and get-off makes him a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen. John Lynch introduced the 49ers would launch him in January. Regardless of expressing curiosity in re-signing him, San Francisco will battle to do this given their cap constraints. If Onyemata and Jarrett are each launched, the entrance workplace ought to intention to signal one veteran so as to add solidity. Hargrave could be the most suitable choice along with his skill to destroy pockets and create favorable matchups for gamers round him.
Will Grady Jarrett be on the group subsequent season?
Kevin Knight: I are likely to suppose he’ll stay on the group. The Falcons will attempt to discover a option to hold Jarrett round. Nevertheless, this may require a reasonably substantial pay lower as part of a small extension. If Jarrett isn’t prepared to do this, then the group could have a tough time passing up the $16.2M in cap financial savings his lower would supply.
Allen Strk: Morris and Fontenot spoke candidly concerning the magnitude of the choice, given how Jarrett is among the franchise’s most beloved gamers however not untouchable contemplating his age and contract. How they arrive to phrases in monetary negotiations will decide whether or not or not he stays on the group. As a lot as Jarrett proudly represents Atlanta, there’s an inkling that he desires to play for a licensed Tremendous Bowl contender.
I spoke to him after the group’s devastating loss to Washington. He was a consummate skilled as all the time, however the frustration was evident. It was one other 12 months of falling quick when the chance to make the playoffs was there. Jarrett nonetheless has a number of years left to be a top quality starter. Reuniting with Dan Quinn could be an incredible transfer for him, contemplating their relationship and Washington’s trajectory. Shifting on from a franchise legend is all the time tough, however it is smart for each events if Jarrett is unwilling to restructure his contract. My prediction is he might be enjoying elsewhere.
