The Grady Jarrett Era is over in Atlanta, as the Falcons officially decided to release one of the longest-tenured players on the roster. A fifth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Clemson product overcame his underwhelming draft capital to establish himself as one of the league’s better defensive tackles at his peak. While he’s no longer a top-10 defensive tackle like he was in 2018 and 2019, he remains a solid player. Last year, Jarrett recorded 2.5 sacks, 53 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and 12 quarterback hits while recording a 62.1 PFF grade, the 44th-best mark out of 118 eligible players.
Falcons are releasing two-time Pro Bowl DT Grady Jarrett, per source. He has played his entire 10 year NFL career in Atlanta.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2025
Unfortunately, solid play could not justify his massive $20.3 million cap hit. With $16.25 million in savings, the Falcons had no choice but to release Grady Jarrett ahead of free agency. While the fifth-round pick won’t receive that type of payday on the open market, he should find a few interested suitors that could use another defensive tackle.
Atlanta Falcons Release Grady Jarrett – 5 Suitors Emerge
Next Teams
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have perhaps the worst defensive line in the league. The team had a historically awful run defense, as the front office never found proper replacements for the departed Brian Burns and the injured Derrick Brown. Brown will return to the field in 2025, but the former first-round pick cannot do it all by himself. Grady Jarrett is better suited as a DT2 at this stage in his career, and the two-time Pro Bowler could give the Panthers one of the league’s better interior duos following his Falcons release.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions Super Bowl window is closing quickly, but they still have the opportunity to win it all in 2025. Perhaps their biggest weakness last year was the defensive line, as nobody could consistently generate pressure following Aidan Hutchinson’s season-ending injury. Grady Jarrett won’t singlehandedly devastate offensive lines at this stage in his career, but he’s still a starting-caliber tackle whose presence will help mitigate the loss of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has his work cut out for him as he attempts to salvage Trent Baalke’s mess. The Jaguars had one of the league’s worst interior rushes last year, and it’s hard to see the unit improving without outside reinforcements. Perhaps second-round pick Maason Smith can make the Year 2 leap, but his rookie season left a lot to be desired. Following his Falcons release, Grady Jarrett could provide a much-needed floor for this team and ensure at least one reliable defensive tackle is on the field at all times next year.
Las Vegas Raiders
Pete Carroll is running the show in Las Vegas, and the Geno Smith trade shows he has no interest in a long rebuild. Carroll wants to win now, and this old-fashioned coach will do that by fortifying the trenches. Maxx Crosby and Adam Butler are here for the long haul, but this team needs another reliable playmaker on the inside. Grady Jarrett is a perfect fit for this team and could help Vegas compete in what might be the NFL’s most competitive division.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints traded for Davon Godchaux, but that shouldn’t stop them from trying to get a better defensive tackle. Godchaux is not a starting-caliber option at this point in his career, and the present-day version of Grady Jarrett is a considerably better player. The Saints don’t have the financial resources to pursue top-of-the-market options, but Jarrett could be a cost-controlled starter for a team that refuses to rebuild.
Main Photo: Dale Zanine – Imagn Images
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