Falcons Waive S Afolabi Laguda
Two months after signing a two-year deal with the Falcons, safety Afolabi Laguda has been let go. The team announced today that they’ve waived the defensive back.
The six-foot-one, 214-pound safety was previously a standout at the University of Colorado, where he compiled 150 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, eight pass defenses, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in three seasons with the team. Despite his performance, Laguda went undrafted during the 2018 draft, but he quickly caught on with the Rams.
Laguda ended up having a solid preseason for Los Angeles, collecting nine tackles in three games. The team liked him enough to briefly stash him on their injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, but he was ultimately waived.
Earlier this offseason, Laguda had an audition with the Colts. However, the Falcons scooped in and ended up inking Laguda to a two-year, minimum-salary deal back in April. Atlanta already had a relatively loaded depth chart at safety, and the team also added free agent J.J. Wilcox to their corps earlier this offseason.
Four NFL Teams Set To Receive Cap Space
Four teams are set to receive some cap space tomorrow due to post-June 1st cuts, as ESPN’s Field Yates points out on Twitter. Those clubs include:
- Bears: $1MM (Cody Parkey, story)
- Chiefs: $9.55MM (Eric Berry, story)
- Falcons: $6.45MM (Ryan Schraeder, story)
- Panthers: $7MM (Matt Kalil, story)
Way back in the day, our own Luke Adams explained all of the nuances of the June 1st designation. In simplest terms, a team’s salary cap can account for a released-player’s bonuses based on two separate time periods.
If a player is designated for release prior to June 1st, the remaining bonus money is immediately added to the upcoming year’s cap. Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com uses the 2013 release of Steve Breaston (Chiefs) as an example. The wide receiver only completed two years of his five-year contract, meaning he was only paid $2MM of his $5MM bonus. Therefore, since he was designated for release prior to June 1st, the remaining $3MM in bonus money was added to the Chiefs’ 2013 salary cap.
However, if the player is designated for release after June 1st, then the player’s current-year bonus remains the same for that respective year (in regards to the salary cap) . The rest of that bonus money would then be added to the following year’s cap. So, using Breaston as an example, if the Chiefs had designated him for release after June 1st, then the team would have seen his $1MM bonus money added to their salary cap in 2013. Then, in 2014, the remaining $2MM would be accounted for.
So why were teams announcing these releases prior to today? Well, the NFL allows each team to designate two players as a post-June 1st cut. This provides the player with more time to find their next gig. This was seemingly a concession by the teams, as they benefit via the salary-cap relief.
For the Bears, Chiefs, Falcons, and Panthers, this added cap space will be especially useful as they look to sign their draft picks or extend their current players. These teams could also be looking to clear some space for a free agent acquisition, as the Panthers are presumably doing for Gerald McCoy.
Beasley To Report On First Day Of Camp
- Another star player confirmed he will be showing up to mandatory minicamp, ESPN’s Vaughn McClure writes. That was Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley, who did not attend OTAs. Entering the final year of his deal, Beasley is set to earn $12.8MM after the Falcons picked up his fifth-year option this offseason.
Falcons Trying Takk McKinley At LB
- Defensive end Takkarist McKinley has been experimenting at linebacker during the Falcons‘ organized team activities, reports D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. McKinley, a first-round pick in the 2017 draft, has been lining up over the tight end on certain plays. “There will be some packages where can be a linebacker,” head coach Dan Quinn said. “The value in that (presents the question of) is he a rusher or is he a dropper?” The 23-year-old McKinley posted eight sacks and 50 pressures on 617 snaps last season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/30/19
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: LB James Folston Jr.
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: T Dieugot Joseph, DE Austin Larkin
- Waived: T Devon Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: RB A.J. Ouellette, DB Jordan Wyatt
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: CB D.J. Killings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Xavier Ubosi
Washington Redskins
- Waived: T Jylan Ware
Falcons, Redskins To Host OL Dieugot Joseph
Dieugot Joseph hasn’t had a chance to see the field for a regular season game during his brief career, but the lineman is apparently generating interest as a free agent. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that Joseph is set to visit with the Redskins and Falcons this week.
The FIU product went undrafted during the 2017 draft, but he quickly caught on with the Bears. He hung around with Chicago’s practice squad until mid-September, when the Ravens signed him to their active roster. The offensive tackle joined the Vikings towards the end of that campaign, earning him an eventual reserve/future contract.
Joseph was released by Minnesota last preseason, and he spent the majority of last season on the Jets’ practice squad. He inked a futures contract with the team in December, but he was let go by the organization earlier this month.
The Falcons have done plenty to revamp their offensive line this offseason. The team added two rookie linemen during the first round of the draft (Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary), and they also added a number of free agents (a grouping that includes James Carpenter and Jamon Brown). Meanwhile, the Redskins haven’t done a whole lot to add to their offensive line corps; the team signed free agent Ereck Flowers, and they also added a pair of rookie linemen during the draft.
Poll: Where Will Gerald McCoy Sign?
Since being released by the Buccaneers earlier this week, Gerald McCoy has received his fair share of interest from about a quarter of the league’s teams. Once Tampa Bay quickly signed Ndamukong Suh as his replacement, the veteran defensive tackle became arguably the most impactful free agent left on the market. 
It’s not hard to see why the nine-year veteran is receiving so much attention. Since entering the league in 2010, the Oklahoma product has earned six Pro Bowl selections and a First Team All-Pro nod (2013) while recording at least five sacks in every season since 2012. He is the only defensive tackle who can make that claim.
The list of teams interested in McCoy’s service is a long one that includes the Browns, Ravens, Panthers, Colts, Bengals, Saints, Falcons and Patriots, who have reportedly pulled out of the running recently. As of this writing, only the Browns and Ravens have been linked to visits. According to reports, McCoy is more interested in playing for a contender and making the playoffs for the first time in his career than a pay day.
His fit in Cleveland would be an intriguing one. That would mean the Browns would roll out a defensive line that would feature McCoy, Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson. That is one formidable front four. The Browns have been connected to McCoy for some time, but they decided against trading for the defensive tackle while he was under contract for $13MM in the upcoming season. After his Bucs release, the Browns might be able to sign him at a lesser rate without giving up any draft capital.
Staying in the AFC North, Baltimore would provide McCoy a contender as the reigning division champs and a loaded defense to work in. In 2018, Baltimore allowed the fewest yards and the second-fewest points in the league, and would become even better on paper with the addition of McCoy. 
Drew Brees is making his own pitch for McCoy to join the Saints. “He’s a stud, he’s a great player,” Brees said this week. “I mean you’re basically asking me if I would love having a Pro Bowl defensive tackle that I’ve spent the last eight years trying to run around and avoid, not have hit me, join our team. Yeah, of course.” McCoy would team with the recently signed Malcom Brown up the middle for a team considered by many to be a Super Bowl frontrunner in 2019.
The Colts have the cap space to sign McCoy and have been relatively quiet so far this offseason. The longtime star would fill an immediate role as a leader on a young and up-and-coming defensive unit that features the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Darius Leonard.
Both the Panthers and Falcons have little in the way of cap room to sign McCoy, but that hasn’t stopped the NFC South squads from readying their pitches for the six-time Pro Bowler.
The Bengals are also interested in McCoy, but they are arguably the furthest away from competing for a playoff spot among the other teams listed. Though pairing McCoy with fellow standout Geno Atkins up the middle would instantly propel Cincinnati into the conversation in the AFC North.
So which team will be the one to land the impact defensive tackle? Is it one of the squads already rumored to be interested, or will a mystery team emerge and secure McCoy’s signature? Vote in the poll (link for app users) and let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
Where will Gerald McCoy sign?
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Browns 22% (1,014)
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Mystery Team 17% (799)
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Patriots 13% (598)
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Ravens 12% (547)
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Colts 11% (489)
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Saints 10% (442)
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Bengals 7% (335)
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Falcons 4% (196)
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Panthers 4% (187)
Total votes: 4,607
Patriots, Falcons, Saints Interested In Gerald McCoy
Free agent Gerald McCoy has at least six suitors in pursuit. The Falcons, Patriots, and Saints have shown a level of interest in McCoy since his release from the Buccaneers, according to ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine (on Twitter). As previously reported, the Bengals, Colts, and Browns are also looking into the defensive tackle. 
The Falcons have little in the way of cap space, so they’d have to get creative if they want to sign McCoy. But, after seeing his best work up close for nine seasons, they’re obviously motivated to find a way to make it work.
The Patriots would give McCoy an opportunity to win while pairing with Michael Bennett on the Patriots’ defensive line. The Pats haven’t had a versatile and dominant interior lineman of McCoy’s caliber since the retirement of Vince Wilfork, so he would fill a long-standing need for them.
Meanwhile, Saints quarterback Drew Brees is lobbying hard for McCoy to come to New Orleans.
“He’s a stud, he’s a great player,” Brees said this week. “I mean you’re basically asking me if I would love having a Pro Bowl defensive tackle that I’ve spent the last eight years trying to run around and avoid, not have hit me, join our team. Yeah, of course.”
But, like the Patriots and Falcons, the Saints are working with limited cap room.
Falcons’ Steven Means Done For Year
Steven Means‘ season is already over. On Wednesday, the Falcons announced that the defensive end will not be able to play in 2019 due to an Achilles injury. 
It’s a frustrating setback for Means, who joined the Falcons after their season opener last year and went on to appear in eight games with four starts. This offseason, the Falcons inked Means to a one-year extension before he could hit the open market, a sign that they had bigger plans for him in the coming year.
Means entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Bucs in 2013 and has also spent time with the Ravens, Texans and Eagles over the course of his NFL career. He’ll be out of contract after the season, so he may have to don another jersey in 2020.
The good news is that even without Means, the Falcons have a solid DE rotation, including Takkarist McKinley, Vic Beasley, Adrian Clayborn, and fourth-round pick John Cominsky.
Pioli Insists He Wasn't Fired
Falcons front office exec Scott Pioli raised some eyebrows when he suddenly resigned the other day. Pioli had been an assistant GM and top lieutenant to GM Thomas Dimitroff, so it was a pretty significant departure. Pioli was the Chiefs’ general manager for four seasons before being canned, and he joined the Falcons in 2014. Rumors swirled about the circumstances surrounding his departure and whether he was forced out, but Pioli is insisting nothing happened. In an interview with Jeff Schultz of The Athletic, Pioli said “I’m fine. My family is fine. This was my choice and it’s just time. Time for what, I don’t know, yet,” he said somewhat cryptically.
Dimitroff backed up Pioli’s account, and said his resignation wasn’t to take another specific job. Still, it’s interesting timing considering recent reports that Arthur Blank, the Falcons’ owner, is getting restless with the direction of the franchise. Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn are under a lot of pressure to win in 2019, and if they don’t deliver they could be joining Pioli on the open market after the season. With his experience running a team, it’s possible Pioli could be a candidate for future GM openings.