As personnel decisions are finalized in Atlanta, the front office may have to be more savvy in free agency following two years of making several high-profile signings.
As NFL Combine Week is in full force, head coaches and general managers are making their first public appearances of the offseason. Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot have expressed some thoughts about their vision for the draft while pondering personnel moves for the future. That includes the tiresome saga surrounding Kirk Cousins’ status and remarks about an injury suffered against New Orleans.
There will be no discussion about the veteran quarterback in the first roundtable of the offseason. Kevin Knight will be joining me to talk about more pressing matters. Free agency is rapidly approaching. It’s time to start assessing potential signings and pivotal roster decisions.
If this is your first time reading a roundtable, the previous edition was published last month to end the 2024 season.
What positional group provides the most options for the Falcons to address a positional need in free agency?
Kevin Knight: There are a few spots with good options at cornerback, safety, and linebacker. Those positions look the deepest at first glance. I’d have to choose linebacker due to the value often found in free agency.
The Falcons have been linked extensively to former Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood, but he’s just one option. Nick Bolton, Cody Barton, Ernest Jones, E.J. Speed, Justin Strnad, Jerome Baker…the list goes on. Some of these players will be expensive. Of course, they’re not all superstars. With limited draft and salary cap resources, Atlanta will need to maximize value to have any hope of patching all the holes on the roster.
Allen Strk: The cornerback market is filled with high-quality starters. Despite investing heavily in the secondary over the last two years by signing Jessie Bates and committing to A.J. Terrell long-term, upgrades are desperately needed in other areas. There isn’t a capable nickel corner on the roster following Dee Alford’s struggles inside all season. An ascending, versatile player like Byron Murphy Jr. who loves being physical and playing tight coverage would be a terrific fit.
If Murphy Jr. is too expensive, Bates could help recruit an old teammate to be a dependable starter inside. Mike Hilton did show signs of aging in a discombobulated Cincinnati defense, but he remains one of the steadier nickel corners in the league. Nate Hobbs could be another option after his solid season in Las Vegas. There is bound to be plenty of corner talent available to be an immediate upgrade, particularly in the slot. The front office should aggressively consider all the available options.
Several edge rushers and interior tackles on the roster will be entering free agency. If one player had to be re-signed for depth purposes, who should it be?
Kevin Knight: Sadly, none of the free agents are all that important to the team’s 2025 plans. I would probably prioritize bringing back Eddie Goldman on the interior and James Smith-Williams outside. Both proved to be quality rotational pieces. Atlanta could do much worse than bringing them back to round out the depth chart.
Allen Strk: Smith-Williams played with impressive ferocity and technique at times before suffering a season-ending leg injury. There were plays where he set the edge extremely well to make a run stop for a minimal gain. The power he brings is a useful asset, especially when playing in base or with a five-man front. If they want to keep a steady edge defender on the roster who holds up well against the run, Smith-Williams proved he can excel in that role.
There is a case to be made for Ta’Quon Graham but injuries have plagued him for most of his career. He hasn’t converted flashes of disruption into consistent production. While Smith-Williams didn’t produce notable numbers, a solid run-defending edge player is more difficult to find than a defensive tackle who can rotate between playing one and three tech. Ruke Orhorhoro and Zach Harrison are expected to take bigger roles in those spots.
Is there a potential salary cap cut that the Falcons should seriously pursue if the player is available?
Kevin Knight: There’s a chance the Broncos could cut edge rusher John Franklin-Myers for cap savings. As a part of their deep rotation, Franklin-Myers played less than 50% of the snaps but still managed seven sacks.
He’s got a history with Jeff Ulbrich from his time in New York and would be an obvious target. The versatile edge rusher may not demand the huge salary that other big names will want on the open market.
Allen Strk: Although the Falcons will aim to get younger on the defensive line after having seven players aged 28 years or older last season, every unit needs a few veterans up front. With David Onyemata destined to be a cap casualty and Grady Jarrett’s uncertain future, the Falcons’ interior could be drastically different. Signing Javon Hargrave is risky given his age and injury history, but there’s no denying the upside with a player of his caliber.
Hargrave is an incredibly disruptive interior force. The combination of having nasty power, hand usage, and get-off makes him a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen. John Lynch announced the 49ers would release him in January. Despite expressing interest in re-signing him, San Francisco will struggle to do that given their cap constraints. If Onyemata and Jarrett are both released, the front office should aim to sign one veteran to add solidity. Hargrave would be the best option with his ability to destroy pockets and create favorable matchups for players around him.
Will Grady Jarrett be on the team next season?
Kevin Knight: I tend to think he will remain on the team. The Falcons will try to find a way to keep Jarrett around. However, this will require a pretty substantial pay cut as a part of a small extension. If Jarrett isn’t willing to do that, then the team will have a hard time passing up the $16.2M in cap savings his cut would provide.
Allen Strk: Morris and Fontenot spoke candidly about the magnitude of the decision, given how Jarrett is one of the franchise’s most beloved players but not untouchable considering his age and contract. How they come to terms in financial negotiations will determine whether or not he remains on the team. As much as Jarrett proudly represents Atlanta, there’s an inkling that he wants to play for a certified Super Bowl contender.
I spoke to him after the team’s devastating loss to Washington. He was a consummate professional as always, but the frustration was evident. It was another year of falling short when the opportunity to make the playoffs was there. Jarrett still has multiple years left to be a quality starter. Reuniting with Dan Quinn would be a tremendous move for him, considering their relationship and Washington’s trajectory. Moving on from a franchise legend is always difficult, but it makes sense for both parties if Jarrett is unwilling to restructure his contract. My prediction is he will be playing elsewhere.