Atlanta Falcons Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Falcons Re-Sign Derrick Shelby

March 22nd, 2018 at 1:15pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have re-signed defensive end Derrick Shelby, according to agent David Canter (on Twitter). He returns on a one-year deal.

The Falcons released Shelby earlier this month in a move that saved them $3.25MM against the cap with $2.5MM left in dead money. He’s back with the team less than three weeks later, but on a cheaper deal.

Shelby was a starter right out of the gate in Dan Quinn’s defense after signing a four-year, $18MM contract with Atlanta in 2016. However, his first season with the Falcons was cut short by injury. last year, he appeared in all 16 games with 14 starts and managed just one sack while also playing on the interior.

The Falcons’ defensive front hasn’t changed much in Shelby’s 19 days away from the team. Atlanta lost Adrian Clayborn to the Patriots and Dontari Poe to the Panthers in free agency, but they have yet to add any new defensive linemen.

Falcons Interested In LB Arthur Moats

March 21st, 2018 at 8:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons have expressed interest in free agent linebacker Arthur Moats, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who adds the Steelers haven’t ruled out a reunion with Moats.

An eight-year NFL veteran, Moats has split his career equally between Buffalo and Pittsburgh. The 30-year-old started 12 games and played 50% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps as recently as 2015, but his role was drastically reduced in 2017. Pittsburgh turned to younger defenders such as Bud Dupree, so Moats only saw action on 8.4% of the club’s snaps.

Still, the Falcons are searching for rotational edge rushers, and Moats could fit that bill, as he was typically good for three-to-four sacks annually during his best seasons with the Steelers. Not only did Atlanta lose Adrian Clayborn to the Patriots in free agency, but it also released defensive end Derrick Shelby. Moats isn’t the only defender on the Falcons’ radar, as they also met with Pernell McPhee today, while the club also has interest in ex-Buccaneer Robert Ayers.

Saints, Falcons, Panthers Interested In DE Robert Ayers

March 21st, 2018 at 6:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Instead of taking multiple free agent visits, former Buccaneers defensive end Robert Ayers plans to meet with teams at the NFL’s annual meeting in Orlando, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link), who reports the Saints, Falcons, and Panthers all have interest in Ayers.

New Orleans, Atlanta, and Carolina, of course, all reside in the NFC South, meaning each club was able to see Ayers’ production from a close vantage point over the past two years as he played for Tampa Bay. The Saints, for their part, have addressed their pass rush by re-signing defensive end Alex Okafor, while the Panthers upgraded their interior by inking Dontari Poe. The Falcons haven’t yet added any new players on the edge, but they have met with free agent Pernell McPhee.

Ayers is now entering his age-32 campaign, but he’s still an outstanding pass rusher. While Ayers posted only two sacks a season ago, he managed 28 pressures (a better indication of production) and graded as Pro Football Focus‘ No. 10 edge defender. Ayers also offers experience in both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, although injuries will be a question mark, as he’s only played in 10 games in each of the past two seasons.

After being cut by the Buccaneers earlier this week, Ayers is now part of a free agent edge class that also includes McPhee, Connor Barwin, Junior Galette, Derrick Shelby, and Kony Ealy, among others.

Falcons Sign TE Logan Paulsen

March 21st, 2018 at 5:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent tight end Logan Paulsen, the club announced today. The pact is worth $1.005MM and contains $200K guaranteed, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.

Atlanta hasn’t been very active during the first wave of the free agent period, but the club had been on the lookout for a veteran tight end to pair with Austin Hooper. After releasing Levine Toilolo earlier this month, the Falcons reportedly had interest in Ed Dickson before he landed with the Seahawks, and they met with Paulsen earlier today before inking him to a deal.

Paulsen, 31, has attracted a bit of interest on the free agent market, as he visited the Lions earlier this week. After hitting a high-water mark with 28 receptions for the Redskins in 2013, Paulsen’s offensive role — regardless of team — has been drastically reduced. He managed just three total catches with the Bears and 49ers in 2016-17, but he contributes on special teams and is one of the NFL’s best pass-blocking tight ends, per Pro Football Focus.

Falcons Meet With Pernell McPhee

March 21st, 2018 at 10:23am CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons are meeting with outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, according to an announcement from the team. McPhee met with the Redskins on Sunday night but left without signing a deal.

McPhee, 29, spent the past three seasons with the Bears. He tallied 14 sacks and 75 tackles for Chicago even as he was slowed by injuries. He probably has to be kept on a pitch count at this point, but he could thrive in a pass rush rotation.

The Falcons are on the look out for pass rushing help after Adrian Clayborn signed with the Patriots. The Falcons have yet to sign an outside linebacker or defensive end this month.

Falcons Meet With CB Justin Bethel

March 20th, 2018 at 12:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Cornerback Justin Bethel will meet with the Falcons on Tuesday, according to a release from the team. This is Bethel’s first known free agent visit of this cycle.

Bethel earned three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2013-2015, mainly for his special teams work. At different times over the last three seasons, the Cardinals have tried to use Bethel as their No. 2 cornerback opposite star Patrick Peterson. The results were mixed, at best, though he does have four interceptions since 2015.

The Falcons have been pretty quiet in free agency thus far with with guard Brandon Fusco representing their only signing. If Bethel comes to Atlanta, it’ll be largely for special teams purposes with some reps behind starters Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford.

Falcons G Ben Garland Signs RFA Tender

March 18th, 2018 at 3:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Falcons guard Ben Garland has signed his second-round restricted free agent tender, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Garland will now be paid $2.914MM for the 2018 season.

Garland was one of 14 NFL restricted free agents to be tendered at the second-round level, and he’s the first to officially sign his tender. Atlanta also tendered safety Ricardo Allen at the second-round level, but he’s yet to sign his contract. There’s no rush for Allen or any restricted free agent to sign his tender, as RFAs have until April 20 to work out offer sheets with other clubs.

Adding another guard was a key offseason priority for the Falcons, but Garland isn’t likely to become a starter in 2018. Not only did the Falcons sign veteran guard Brandon Fusco to a three-year deal, but they restructured the contract of fellow interior lineman Andy Levitre, ensuring he’ll remain on Atlanta’s roster during the upcoming campaign.

Instead, Garland will once again serve as depth for the Falcons, acting as a reserve alongside Ty Sambrailo, Wes Schweitzer, Austin Pasztor, and Sean Harlow. Last season, the 29-year-old Garland appeared in all 16 games and made three starts, ultimately playing on roughly a third of Atlanta’s offensive snaps and a third of the club’s special teams snaps. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus graded Garland as the No. 50 guard among 77 qualifiers.

Falcons Not Major Players in Free Agency

March 18th, 2018 at 12:00pm CST by Rory Parks

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff has used free agency to drastically improve his team in the past, but as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, Dimitroff is largely eschewing free agency this year. Atlanta has a strong roster with a number of quality young players on the defensive side of the ball, so the club is content to build through the draft. The team did sign Brandon Fusco to a three-year deal to be its starting right guard, but otherwise, the Falcons’ top priority this offseason is to get an extension done for Matt Ryan.

Panthers To Sign Dontari Poe

March 15th, 2018 at 1:56pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers are signing defensive tackle Dontari Poe, according to Kimberley A. Martin of the Washington Post (on Twitter). It’s a three-year deal worth between $9MM and $10MM per year, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Martin specifies (via Twitter) this is a three-year, $27MM agreement.

Poe takes over for defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, who departed in free agency to sign with the Bills. He’ll be joined by Kawann Short in the middle with Julius Peppers and Mario Addison on the bookends, so Carolina will continue to have a fearsome front four.

After agreeing to a one-year deal with the Falcons several days into the 2017 free agency period, Poe drew more definitive interest this year. An endurance machine for a defensive tackle, Poe returned to his durable ways by playing in all 18 Falcons games last season. During the regular season, the three-down tackle logged 880 snaps — third-most among pure DTs last year. The two-time Pro Bowler, who ranked as PFR’s No. 4 free agent still on the board, will be set for his age-28 season.

Poe spent last season with the Falcons, though he was not expected to return due to his expected market. Indeed, he has secured a bump in average annual value, but this time over a longer span.

The former Chiefs first-round pick had to settle for a one-year deal last year because he was coming off one of his worst seasons. Poe underwent back surgery in in 2015 and in his final two Chiefs years wasn’t quite as dominant as his 2013-14 versions, when he combined for 10.5 sacks and looked on track to a top-market extension. The Chiefs, however, did not keep him. But Poe rebuilt his value in Atlanta, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 35 interior defender last season.

He’ll join Short and form what figures to be a difficult interior tandem for offensive lines to handle come September.

[RELATED: Panthers Depth Chart]

Patriots, Falcons Pursuing RB Danny Woodhead

March 15th, 2018 at 11:19am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots and Falcons have reached out to free agent running back Danny Woodhead, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Woodhead is available following his release from the Ravens earlier this week.

Woodhead joined the Ravens on a free agent deal last offseason, but his contract was terminated before he could earn the full value of the $8.8MM deal. Thanks to a hamstring injury, Woodhead saw time in only eight games. He caught 33 passes for 200 yards in what was effectively half of a season.

Woodhead, a practice field favorite of the Jets, made his way to the Patriots in 2015 and became a major contributor in their offense. Across three seasons with New England, Woodhead averaged 4.8 yards per carry and averaged 32 catches for 342 yards per 16-game set. The Patriots are on the lookout for backfield help after losing Dion Lewis to the Titans. They did, however, re-sign one of their own in Rex Burkhead.

In Atlanta, Woodhead would serve as a complementary piece to go along with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Woodhead hasn’t been utilized as a traditional ball carrier in recent seasons and he’d be doing even less in that regard with the Falcons.

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