Continuing our tour around the league in the run up to free agency we’re going to move into the NFC South, and we begin with a rundown of the Atlanta Falcons.
Strangely, in the past couple of seasons the Falcons have allowed several key players to hit free agency at the same time; something most teams usually try and avoid as much as possible. They did well to limit the impact of such timing last offseason, but having traded so much in the draft to snag Julio Jones this offseason, that task may be even tougher.
With at least three key components of the defense all upcoming free agents, the Falcons won’t be short of needs, only able as they are to Franchise Tag one of them.
Primary Need: Left Tackle
After a few trying seasons, it’s time to bring the curtain down on the Sam Baker (-16.3) experience. Baker has never been able to live up to his draft status, and the Falcons actually had a significant upgrade when Will Svitek (-9.7) came into the lineup. The problem for them is that the upgrade wasn’t significant enough, and they’re still left with no legitimate blind-side protector for Matt Ryan. Despite his nickname “Matty Ice”, Ryan’s production plummets in the face of pressure and he, more than some quarterbacks, needs a capable left tackle protecting him. The Falcons need to find one, but is it an option in free agency?
The answer is yes, but it comes with a stack of caveats for each potential fix. Jared Gaither (+3.8) may be one of the most talented left tackles in football (heck, he might be THE most talented LT in football). He has been dumped from two teams at this stage for differing reasons, before being picked up by the Chargers and rescuing the season of Philip Rivers. Gaither has big time talent but has struggled with attitude in the wrong situation and injuries in the past, and the Chargers are keen to keep hold of him. The other intriguing option is Demetrius Bell (+6.8) from Buffalo. The Bills were looking for Bell to become a capable LT for years and it finally happened this season only for his year to be curtailed through injury. The Falcons could take a risk based on the seven games of good tape this year, but it would be a major gamble.
Secondary Need: Right Guard
Atlanta may have been able to survive losing Harvey Dahl (+3.2) last offseason, but they still need to replace the loss, because nobody that took a shot at it this season was able to get it done. Garrett Reynolds (-13.8) got the first and most extensive opportunity to step into Dahl’s role, but he wasn’t up to the task, surrendering three sacks, 28 more pressures, run blocking not particularly well and being flagged five times on the season. The Falcons are at their best when they have a strong offensive line that allows their skill position weapons to function, and guard needs to be upgraded for that to happen.
Guard is one of the positions in free agency where there are quality players to be found, but unfortunately for the Falcons, almost all of them ply their trade on the left side of the line. Some of those guys have the ability to play on the right as well, but nobody wants to experiment with a high-priced free agent by moving positions and hoping for the best. In terms of right guards, the Panthers may allow restricted free agent Geoff Schwartz (+12.3 in 2010) to test the open market, and if they do, even coming off an injury, the Falcons could do far worse than rob their divisional rival.
Tertiary Need: Cornerback
I could go in a few different directions with this need. I believe that should the Falcons lose either John Abraham 0r Curtis Lofton, the need instantly shifts to patching the large hole they would leave. Otherwise, the Falcons are needing another corner even if they do franchise tag Brent Grimes (+16.0). In an ever-increasing passing league, Dunta Robinson (-11.6) remains a shadow of the player he was prior to his injuries. The Falcons also still need a capable nickel corner as they were especially bare when Grimes missed time last season.
Like guard, this is a good year to need a cornerback, and if the Falcons want to spend they could bring any one of several top quality players. Assuming they’re looking a little lower down the price range with two big-money players already on board (assuming Grimes is tagged), a player like Richard Marshall (-1.2) is an experienced and versatile player that could do a job for the Falcons and lock down their nickel role in the defense and give them a reason to bench Dunta Robinson on the outside if he doesn’t step up his level of play.
2012 Free Agent Tracker | PFF’s Top 50 Free Agents | QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | CB | S | OLB | ILB | Interior DL | Edge Rushers
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