Falcons To Send 2020 Seventh-Rounder To Patriots For Jordan Richards Trade
- Last August, the Patriots traded safety Jordan Richards to the Falcons for a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick. In the same piece linked above, Reiss reports that Richards was on Atlanta’s game-day roster enough times to satisfy the conditions of the swap — indeed, he ended up starting 12 games for the Falcons — so New England will get a 2020 seventh-rounder from the Falcons.
Falcons To Host OT Ulrick John On Visit
The first couple of waves of free agency are over, and most teams are now waiting until after the draft has passed to continue digging around the market. But the Falcons are staying active, signing defensive tackle Tyeler Davison earlier today.
They’re also apparently looking for some offensive line help, as the team will host tackle Ulrick John on a visit Monday, a source told Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). John signed with the Patriots last April, but ended up spending the entire season on injured reserve, although he did win a Super Bowl with the team. Before that he spent most of the 2017 season with the Packers, appearing in five games.
He saw the most significant action of his career in 2016 with the Cardinals, when he started three games at right tackle. The Georgia State product entered the league as a seventh round pick of the Colts back in 2014. He also spent parts of the 2015 season with the Dolphins. John has reached full journeyman status, but evaluators keep seeing enough in him to have him stick around.
Ryan Schraeder started most of last season at right tackle for the Falcons, but the team doesn’t seem like they’re planning on re-signing him. Atlanta could start Ty Sambrailo next year, or they could seek to address the position in the draft. If they sign John, it’ll almost certainly be as depth and not to start.
Falcons To Sign Tyeler Davison
One of the top remaining defenders is off the market. The Falcons are signing defensive tackle Tyeler Davison, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
It’ll be a one-year deal, Rapoport notes. The Falcons’ run defense struggled mightily last season, and they’re clearly hoping Davison will help with that. The Falcons already have one of the league’s best defensive tackles in Grady Jarrett, so anything Davison provides will be a bonus. Davison comes from the division rival Saints after spending the first four years of his career in New Orleans.
Davison started 43 games for the Saints the past three seasons, so this is a significant move. Last season, Davison had 23 tackle, two sacks, and one forced fumble in 14 games. He played about 41 percent of the defensive snaps. A Fresno State product, Davison was drafted in the fifth round back in 2015. He received average marks from Pro Football Focus, grading out as their 83rd-best defensive lineman. The Saints signed defensive tackle Malcom Brown away from the Patriots at the beginning of free agency, so the writing was on the wall that they’d be moving on from Davison.
Falcons To Address Line In Draft
- The Falcons will be focusing on the line in the upcoming draft, ESPN’s Vaughn McClure writes. Owner Arthur Blank said as much, commenting they need to get younger on the offensive line and that defensive line is an area of need. Atlanta owns the 14th pick and have shown heavy interest in Oklahoma lineman Cody Ford. –
NFL Draft Rumors: Brown, Harry, Cardinals
This week’s combine re-checks produced very positive news for Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Brown, who has been out of a boot for weeks, was given the thumbs up on his surgically-repaired foot.
Despite the injury, the 5’9″ receiver is widely projected as a first round pick. Last year, Brown put himself on the NFL radar with 75 catches for 1,318 yards and ten touchdowns.
Here’s the latest NFL Draft buzz:
- Arizona State wide receiver N’Keal Harry will work out for the Cardinals on April 20 at ASU, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter). Head coach Kliff Kingsbury, GM Steve Keim, and president Michael Bidwill will be among those on hand for Harry’s only private NFL workout. Harry isn’t a contender for the No. 1 overall pick, but he could be a candidate for the Cardinals’ first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall)
- The Rams are meeting with Clemson defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence and Clelin Ferrell on campus, Rapoport tweets. Both players are expected to go in the first round, but the Rams may be out of range at No. 31 overall.
- Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will visit the Jaguars on Thursday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).
- Houston cornerback Isaiah Johnson will work out for the Falcons on Thursday, Rapoport tweets. The converted wide receiver came away with two interceptions in each of the last two seasons and could go as high as the second round.
Falcons To Host Miles Sanders
- Penn State running back Miles Sanders has been vaulting up draft boards (he currently ranks one spot behind Collier at No. 46 on Jeremiah’s list), and he has a busy schedule ahead of him. Sanders is scheduled to work out for/meet with the Bears, Eagles, Steelers, Ravens, Bills, Cowboys, Falcons, Titans, Bengals, Panthers, Buccaneers, and Colts. In 2018, Sanders’ only season as a starter, he posted 1,274 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 220 attempts.
Falcons To Sign DE Adrian Clayborn
The Falcons are signing Adrian Clayborn, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The defensive end will return to Atlanta on a one-year deal worth up to $4MM. 
This marks a homecoming for Clayborn, who spent 2015-2017 with the Falcons. In his final Atlanta season, Clayborn registered a career-high 9.5 sacks, but his 2018 follow-up with the Patriots (2.5 sacks) was not quite as impressive.
In mid-March, the Pats cut him loose. The Patriots used Clayborn as a pass-rushing specialist and employed him in 14 regular season games. All in all, he played in 30% of the team’s defensive snaps last year, but he was a healthy scratch in the final two contests of the season.
Even if he’s lost a step, Clayborn fills a need for the Falcons on the defensive line.
Falcons Meet With DT Ra’Shede Hageman
The Falcons are thinking about reuniting with Ra’Shede Hageman. The defensive tackle met with Atlanta brass last week, according to Darren Wolfson of’ KSTP TV (on Twitter). 
Hageman, 29 in August, was a second-round pick of the Falcons in 2014. He appeared in 44 games (16 starts) in his three seasons with the club, but he was cut loose in September 2017 shortly before the NFL handed him a six-game ban stemming from a domestic violence arrest.
Hageman, who has not been on the field since the 2016 season, is looking to work his way back into the NFL. If he signs with the Falcons or any other club, he’ll first have to serve a two-game suspension for driving while impaired.
The Falcons aren’t the only club with interest in Hageman. The Vikings also considered the University of Minnesota product late last month, though it’s not clear if he’s still on their radar.
Falcons To Meet With Tyeler Davison
The Falcons are bringing in veteran defensive tackle Tyeler Davison for a visit, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). This marks Davison’s first known visit of this free agent cycle.
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Davison has been a starter for the Saints over the last three seasons and could have an opportunity to shine with their divisional rival. The Falcons tagged Grady Jarrett to keep him in the mix, but Terrell McClain continues to float in free agent limbo. For now, Jack Crawford and Deadrin Senat represent the only other defensive tackles of significance on the roster.
Davison has registered 95 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles for his career. Two of those sacks came in 2018, representing a new career best.
Falcons Hosting Jawaan Taylor
- The Falcons are working out Florida offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor on Thursday, tweets Rapoport. Along with Alabama’s Jonah Williams, Taylor is considered one of the top tackle prospects on the board in 2019. Taylor, who didn’t work out at the combine due to injury, has also met with the Jaguars. Atlanta, for their part, released right tackle Ryan Schraeder earlier this year and extended Ty Sambrailo, who figures to enter the season as the Falcons’ starter on the right side. Taylor would be a luxury choice for Atlanta, who hold the 14th overall selection.