Falcons 2020 Draft & Free Agency: Pass Rush and Safety in the mix

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Thomas must crunch the #'s to keep him. Big risk if we lock him up. Regardless, I'm happy he made a name for himself.

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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Falcons are "weighing" moving on from Devonta Freeman.

Rapoport adds that decision is currently "up in the air." The Falcons can save $3.5 million in cap space by simply releasing the soon-to-be 28-year-old and starting over with Ito Smith, Brian Hill (an exclusive rights free agent), and a fresh draft pick or free agent signing in the offseason. Pegged for a bounce-back campaign, Freeman clearly lacked juice (albeit behind poor blocking) in rushing for 184/656/2 and a career-low 3.57 YPC in '19, perhaps making this decision an easier one for the organization. His absence would vacate 51 percent of the team's carries from last season.

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Feb 12, 2020, 2:17 PM ET



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Ryan Allen, Younghoe Koo sign one-year extensions with Falcons

https://www.patspulpit.com/platform/amp/2020/2/19/21142947/ex-new-england-patriots-specialists-ryan-allen-younghoe-koo-re-sign-with-atlanta-falcons

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Tampa Bay appears to be moving on from Jameis Winston. Rivers seems likely for Tampa Bay.


NBC Sports' Peter King considers the Bucs "likely" to move on from free agent Jameis Winston.

That's how things have been trending to this point. ESPN's Jenna Laine adds the Bucs have a "level of frustration" with Winston's turnovers and coach Bruce Arians is "adamant" about exploring other options. It's looking increasingly like Winston won't be back in Tampa. Where Winston ends up and how much he's valued by the rest of the league remains to be seen.

SOURCE: FMIA

Mar 2, 2020, 11:28 AM ET




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Looking at every Falcons first-round pick under Thomas Dimitroff


https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/gallery/atlatna-falcons-nfl-draft-thomas-dimitroff-julio-jones-matt-ryan-calvin-ridley/amp/#vg-6

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Thomas Dimitroff indirectly addresses moving up to draft Chase Young

https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/dimitroff-indirectly-addresses-trading-for-chase-young/pUFQI1EEPw9zIlD5KMZ0UM/amp.html

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Desmond Trufant will be cut

Trufant, who played just nine games last season after breaking his forearm, has the fourth largest salary cap number ($15.1 million) on the team behind quarterback Matt Ryan ($24.1 million), wide receiver Julio Jones ($20.4 million) and left tackle Jake Matthews ($16 million). The Falcons would receive $4.4 million in cap relief by cutting Trufant and giving him a post-June 1 designation.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ajc.com/sports/football/report-falcons-set-cut-cornerback-desmond-trufant/UjNiTqfWYjbNZDY8MchG7M/amp.html



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Falcons TE Austin Hooper Speaks on Rumors of Packers, Bears, Redskins Interest

https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2881027-falcons-te-austin-hooper-speaks-on-rumors-of-packers-bears-redskins-interest.amp.html

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Browns agreed to terms with TE Austin Hooper, formerly of the Falcons.

Both ESPN and NFL Network report the deal will make Hooper the highest-paid tight end in the league. It's reportedly for four years and $44 million. Not including Hunter Henry's franchise tag, Travis Kelce's $9.368 million per season made him the previous highest paid. Hooper is a strong pass catcher and decent blocker, but it's a somewhat surprising allocation of resources from the Browns, who already have one of the league's pre-eminent chain movers in Jarvis Landry and have invested a ton of money in their skill corps. Either way, a solid player is a solid player, and a lack of weapons will not be a 2020 excuse for Baker Mayfield. Landry and Odell Beckham's presence will make it difficult for Hooper to repeat last year's TE6 finish by total points in PPR leagues.

RELATED: 

Atlanta Falcons

SOURCE: Jeremy Fowler on Twitter

Mar 16, 2020, 12:39 PM ET




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Ravens traded TE Hayden Hurst to the Falcons.

The Ravens also traded a 2020 fourth-round pick in return for the Falcons' 2020 2nd- and 5th-round picks. Trade rumors have surrounded the former first-round pick all offseason. Hurst was solid in 2019, catching 30-of-39 targets for 349 yards and a pair of scores. Still, he routinely worked behind both Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle. Hurst is a bit faster than Austin Hooper and could feasibly work as the No. 3 option in one of the league's most pass-heavy offenses in 2020. Note that Hurst (26) is actually older than Hooper (25).

SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Mar 16, 2020, 2:29 PM ET



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Rams released RB Todd Gurley.

Gurley just signed a "four-year, $60 million" extension in July 2018. The Rams spent weeks trying to trade Gurley but could not find a taker for his albatross of a deal. The move actually costs the Rams $2.9 million against the cap, leaving behind $20.15 million in dead money, but was prompted by a $10.5 million roster bonus that was about to come due. The Rams benefit more in terms of real cash than salary cap. Gurley was cruising along as one of the best non-quarterback offensive players in the league until ankle and knee issues began to slow him down in late 2018. He was not himself in the playoffs and the reduced form carried over to 2019, where he averaged 3.8 yards per carry. Although he is still only 25 years old, Gurley's knee issues are chronic. His release further gluts the running back market.

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Los Angeles Rams

Mar 19, 2020, 3:46 PM ET




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Todd Gurley Rumors: RB Prefers to Join Falcons, Dolphins After Rams Release

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2882029-todd-gurley-rumors-rb-prefers-to-join-falcons-dolphins-after-rams-release.amp.html

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ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Falcons and Dolphins had the most trade interest before the Rams released Todd Gurley.

Gurley's contract was bad enough that a trade was never going to happen, but they are sensible landing spots. The free-spending Dolphins have since signed Jordan Howard, but that might not be a deal-breaker. Atlanta would be a homecoming for Gurley, and the Falcons currently have one of the league's worst backfields. Gurley, of course, does not have good 2019 film.

RELATED: 

Atlanta Falcons

, Miami Dolphins

SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Mar 19, 2020, 7:06 PM ET



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NFL

2020 NFL Mock Draft 11.0: Three Rounds After most of Free Agency

With most of the top free agents now off the board, it's time to go three rounds deep in our latest mock draft.


16. Atlanta Falcons: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.si.com/.amp/nfl/2020/03/20/mock-draft-11-three-rounds



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I hate that the Saints signed him.


Saints signed Emmanuel Sanders, formerly of the 49ers, to a two-year, $16 million contract.

The last time Sanders took to turf in the Superdome with the Niners he hauled in 7/157/1 and threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Raheem Mostert. The 33-year-old's next destination on the open market was beginning to look bleak, but New Orleans' pecking order behind Michael Thomas is arguably the best-case scenario as Sanders returns for his 11th season, just one year removed from a devastating Achilles' injury. Assuming a clean bill of health, the veteran slot wideout projects as the team's No. 2/3 option ahead of Jared Cook, Ted Ginn, and Tre'Quan Smith.

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Dallas Cowboys

, Denver Broncos

, Green Bay Packers

, San Francisco 49ers

SOURCE: Josina Anderson on Twitter

Mar 20, 2020, 10:35 PM ET



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Browns agreed to terms with TE Austin Hooper, formerly of the Falcons.

Both ESPN and NFL Network report the deal will make Hooper the highest-paid tight end in the league.

I really hate that we didn't trade him last season when things started falling apart. Letting one of the top players at his position walk away without getting a solid asset in return feels like a short sighted decision. It's the kind of non-move that occurs when decision-makers are more concerned with keeping their job than making hard, long term choices.


IIRC we do get some type of supplemental draft pick for losing him in FA, right?

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I don't know if Anthony Gordon would fall to the 3rd or 4th round or lower, but he could be a great pick up for the Falcons and to learn behind Matt Ryan, and maybe, if, after a few years, if he improves enough, he can take over for Ryan.

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The league's "management council executive committee" has "unanimously" decided the draft will go forward as planned on April 23-25.  

The league's general managers have appeared eager to postpone the draft because of their inability to host and interview prospects in person because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the league has yet to seriously consider a delay. The situation changes by the hour, but it is looking like a strong bet the event will go forward as scheduled. It is more than fair to question the wisdom of that decision, but it is also quite clear the sports fans amongst the quarantined populace are desperate for a distraction. The league has one month to figure out a way to pull off the event in a way that keeps both prospects and team employees safe. In a memo, Goodell told teams they should "be doing the necessary planning to conduct draft operations in a location outside of your facility, with a limited number of people present."

SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter



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Browns signed DE Adrian Clayborn, formerly of the Falcons, to a two-year, $6 million contract.

Clayborn has been a replacement-level starter for nearly a decade, primarily with the Falcons and Bucs. He picked up 4.0 sacks last year as a 31-year-old and should be viewed as a rotational veteran at this point in his career. The Browns' pass rush, of course, will be lead by Myles Garrett.

SOURCE: Field Yates on Twitter

Mar 31, 2020, 6:24 PM ET



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