Grady Jarrett has been a fixture on the Atlanta Falcons defensive line for the past decade, but the two-time Pro Bowler may have played his final snap with the team. A fifth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Clemson product began his career as a depth player before emerging as a starter in 2016. Turning one of the team’s best draft picks in recent memory, Jarrett peaked as one of the league’s better defensive tackles and remained consistent throughout his tenure with the organization.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Jarrett finished the 2024 season with 2.5 sacks, 53 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and a 62.1 PFF grade, the 47th-best mark out of 126 eligible players. While he’s still a solid player, average production might not be enough to justify his current contract. Currently set to carry a $20.37 million cap hit, Bleacher Report believes the Falcons will release the veteran to save $16.25 million against the salary cap.
Atlanta is currently $11 million over the projected salary cap, and that’s before they inevitably part ways with Kirk Cousins. Grady Jarrett is still a good player, but his contract situation means he might not have a future with the Falcons. However, this won’t be the end of the road, as teams like the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints could both use a player of Jarett’s caliber.
Falcons Likely to Cut Grady Jarrett – Could Land With Panthers, Saints
The Carolina Panthers needed somebody to step up when star defensive tackle Derrick Brown suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1. Unfortunately, nobody did, as the Panthers didn’t have a single defensive tackle rank in the top 75 at the position. The Panthers defense was arguably the worst in the league last year and the inability of the unit to hold their own in the middle played a large role in the disappointing on-field results.
Derrick Brown will be back in 2025, but the Panthers must find another starting-caliber defensive tackle. Grady Jarrett might not be the superstar he once was, but the Falcons cut candidate is the perfect choice to start opposite Brown. These two will provide Carolina with a reliable defensive tackle duo that should shut down rushing lanes and routinely collapse the pocket. Additionally, Jarrett shouldn’t cost too much, so Carolina should have money left over to sign at least one or two more defensive starters.
Budget Fixes In New Orleans
Whoever ends up becoming the New Orleans Saints next head coach will have their work cut out for them. Years upon years of kicking the can down the road have not led to sustained success, and now the bill has come due. While General Manager Mickey Loomis will restructure his way to salary cap compliance, this team will not have the financial liberty to land top free agents in the offseason. With this in mind, New Orleans may have no choice but to kick the tires on cap casualties like Grady Jarrett.
The Saints roster is littered with weaknesses, and while the offensive line receives the most attention, New Orleans needs another defensive tackle. First-round pick Bryan Bresee is a solid pass rusher, but he’s an active liability in the run game. This team needs to find someone who can hold his own in the trenches and close rushing lanes, and Jarrett might be the most cost-effective man for the job. While it will be weird seeing Grady Jarrett in Saints colors after so much time with the Falcons, the fit is too good to ignore. New Orleans needs a stable defensive tackle, and Jarrett can do the dirty work while Bresee goes for the big plays.
Main Photo: Dale Zanine – Imagn Images
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