Working around the cap isn’t fun, but Atlanta got a few deals done in the first week of free agency.
Disclaimer: Due to the nature of Atlanta’s cap situation, I did not grade these moves based on the “splashy” nature, but purely off their potential effectiveness and how they affect the team in the near future.
Free agency is a time of hope in a time where most NFL fans are yearning for it. The new league year starts and the page is officially turned toward the 2025 season. For the Atlanta Falcons, there were questions about what this free agency period would hold after coming into the week over the cap. General Manager Terry Fontenot spent his first two years scraping the Falcons out of cap hell, all for one ill-advised contract to potentially push Atlanta right back into it.
Luckily, based on the first three games of his career, the Falcons did end up finding a legitimate signal-caller in soon-to-be-second-year quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. Now, this off-season is dedicated to pushing this defense to meet the offense where it’s projected to be with four first-round picks.
With the first week of this push to prioritize the defense in the book, we grade each of Atlanta’s signings, releases and everything in between.
Releasing DT Grady Jarrett
Grade: C-
With the Falcons coming in over the cap, there were questions about what difficult decisions had to be made to get back under.
I don’t think any fans in Atlanta could have expected this.
Grady Jarrett, the decade-long leader of the defense, found himself a cap casualty on the first day of free agency. While his $16.25 million cap relief was nice and ultimately, probably necessary, losing that kind of voice on that side of the football is a tough pill to swallow. Not to mention the defensive tackle that was expected to not be on the team in 2025, David Onyemata, is still on the roster. That’s probably due to the projected $10.5 million cap savings as a post-June 1 cut, according to OverTheCap.com.
Extending OT Jake Matthews
Grade: B-
With Jarrett gone, the final piece of the magical 2016 Super Bowl run is 33-year-old Jake Matthews. And, according to his new $45 million extension, there’s no signs, at least to the front office, of him slowing down. The $7 million the move freed up helped Atlanta become cap compliant ahead of Wednesday’s new league year deadline.
Not much to be said about this deal. Matthews doesn’t seem to be close to any cliff athletically and has been an above average to good tackle for his entire 11-year career in Atlanta.
So, for the front office to come to the conclusion of “What’s two more years?” isn’t necessarily surprising.
Signing LB Divine Deablo
Grade: A
First of all, what a name.
Secondly, whether that was sideline to sideline or in coverage, Atlanta seemed to be particularly susceptible to big plays on the second level due to a lack of athleticism in 2024. So, the low-risk bet on a player like Deablo, who continued to show flashes as a Las Vegas Raider, is one that could potentially pay off handsomely for the Falcons.
With Andersen’s health and Landman’s roster status uncertain, Atlanta needed to find a way to upgrade at linebacker. While the top of the draft is still a possibility, the Deablo signing gives Atlanta a certainty that they allocate resources to building out that part of the defense.
Re-signing CB Mike Hughes
Grade: B
After being one of the lone bright spots from last year’s defense, Mike Hughes may have found himself a home as, at minimum depth at the cornerback position, in Atlanta. Hughes is another low-cost bet as his three year, $18 million contract makes it easy to look to draft to potentially find an answer.
However, if you’re unable to land one, you feel pleased with knowing what you’re getting on the outside with Hughes on the other side of Terrell.
This is another bargain bet later on in the first week that could pay off very well for Atlanta, especially if Hughes keeps the same level of play as last season under new DC Jeff Ulbrich.
Signing EDGE Leonard Floyd
Grade: B+
Signing a pass rusher of Leonard Floyd’s caliber will always score brownie points with Falcons fans. Actually, signing a pass rusher period is usually enough, but when they are coming off an 8.5 sack season and have had the career success (two years of 10+ sacks, including 2023 w/ Buffalo), it’s going to be looked at quite fondly.
That being said, we were just here last season with the Matt Judon signing. While brushing that off with a simple “oh, that was different” like Red from Friday may be the answer, we have to acknowledge that there are some risks of the same sort of fall-off for a 32-year-old Floyd.
Signing CB Mike Ford, CB Keith Taylor, LB Josh Woods
Grade: B
Will this signing be the difference between the Falcons winning a Super Bowl or not? Probably not. But when you’re re-building a defense, you need every advantage you can get, including field position.
When playing Atlanta, teams, on average, started at around their own 31-yard-line, which ranks 21st in the NFL. Not bad, but think about gaining a yard or two on average on every drive and what that could do for a defense that will be trying to find itself in 2025?
All that to say, securing a special teams ace like Mike Ford, who already has experience playing for Special Teams Coordinator Marquice Williams in 2022 for $2 million a year is a steal.
The Falcons also secured LB Josh Woods to potentially push for a bottom of the roster spot. Cornerback Keith Taylor is also credible depth and special teams help, as well.
Re-signing WR KhaDarel Hodge
Grade: A
Good teams reward good players when they have good years. That’s exactly what the Falcons did for Pro Bowl special teams extraordinaire KhaDarel Hodge.
For years, Hodge has continued to do whatever this team has needed from him to help them be in a better position to win. Last year, that all came to a head as he showed out with multiple huge plays on special teams from blocked punts to recovering fumbles for touchdowns.
Every team needs players who have that dog mentality and Hodge is being rewarded for his with job security and a nice pay raise.
Re-signing DL Ta’Quon Graham
Grade: C+
There’s not really much to say about this re-signing, Ta’Quon Graham has shown flashes of being a good depth piece and, so long as he’s on the field (he missed seven games last season due to a season-ending pectoral injury), he will continue to be a solid piece for the Falcons.
Re-signing OL Kyle Hinton, Elijah Wilkinson, Storm Norton, Brandon Parker
Grade: B-
I lumped all of Atlanta’s offensive line depth moves into one, because, that’s what they are. They are the Falcons re-signing and retaining continuity along one of the better offensive lines in the league.
I couldn’t give it an A or better, because the one player that truly needed to be resigned, center Drew Dalman, left to grab a nice bag with the Chicago Bears (or Chicago Falcons, apparently).
But shoring up the offensive line and allowing resources in the draft to go toward building the defense is good process for where the Falcons are right now in their re-build/tooling.
Signing DL Morgan Fox
Grade: A
When one door closes, another door opens.
The young core of Ruke Orhorhoro, Ta’Quon Graham, Zach Harrison and Brandon Dorlus should be improved from last year, but it probably won’t be enough to propel this line to the heights of a playoff-caliber defense. Especially without a veteran presence like Jarrett to lead them on the line.
In comes Morgan Fox.
Yes, he’s on the wrong side of 30 and isn’t the most stout of run defenders, but his production as a pass-rusher is more than enough to warrant the $4.25 million a year bet.