Atlanta Falcons Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Weatherspoon Mentions Colts Connection

By Sam Robinson | at February 24, 2018 4:10 pm

Sean Weatherspoon has played in just six games for the Falcons the past two seasons and has missed all five of Atlanta’s playoff contests in that span. The 30-year-old linebacker is now a free agent. He would like to return to Atlanta but acknowledged a connection to former Missouri defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who now has a first-time opportunity as an NFL DC with the Colts. “My college coach, who recruited me to Missouri, is the (defensive) coordinator for the Colts now,” Weatherspoon said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “There are a lot of things, I love Atlanta, but I’m just looking for an opportunity. I’d love to be here. If things work out, this is where I’ll be.” Prior to his injury trouble during his second Falcons stint, the former first-round pick started 40 games with the Falcons from 2010-13. Given where he is in his career, Weatherspoon would likely be available for the veteran minimum.

Andre Roberts Would To Stay With Falcons

By Ben Levine | at February 24, 2018 10:29 am

Andre Roberts wants to return to the Falcons next season, but the returner is expecting to become a free agent in the middle of March.

[SOURCE LINK]

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Falcons Work Out Ex-Bucs C

By Sam Robinson | at February 23, 2018 9:51 pm

The Falcons worked out former Buccaneers center Ben Gottschalk, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (on Twitter). Gottschalk started a game for the 2016 Bucs but has only played in two contests. The Bucs cut the former UDFA out of SMU just after the 2017 draft.

0 comments Atlanta Falcons Dallas Cowboys Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Anthony Weaver Ben Gottschalk Taylor Symmank

NFL Awards Compensatory Picks To 15 Teams

By Zachary Links | at February 23, 2018 3:52 pm

The NFL has awarded 15 compensatory draft picks to teams, as directed by the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The compensatory pick system provides additional picks to teams who lose more/better qualifying free agents in the previous year than gained.

This year, the 32 comp picks were dispersed to 15 different teams. Here is the complete rundown:

Round 3

No. 97 overall – Cardinals
No. 98 overall – Texans
No. 99 overall – Broncos
No. 100 overall – Bengals

Round 4

No. 133 overall – Packers
No. 134 overall – Cardinals
No. 135 overall – Giants
No. 136 overall – Patriots
No. 137 overall – Cowboys

Round 5

No. 170 overall – Bengals
No. 171 overall – Cowboys
No. 172 overall – Packers
No. 173 overall – Cowboys
No. 174 overall – Packers

Round 6

No. 207 overall – Packers
No. 208 overall – Cowboys
No. 209 overall – Chiefs
No. 210 overall – Raiders
No. 211 overall – Texans
No. 212 overall – Raiders
No. 213 overall – Vikings
No. 214 overall – Texans
No. 215 overall – Ravens
No. 216 overall – Raiders
No. 217 overall – Raiders
No. 218 overall – Vikings

Round 7

No. 251 overall – Chargers
No. 252 overall – Bengals
No. 253 overall – Bengals
No. 254 overall – Cardinals
No. 255 overall – Buccaneers
No. 256 overall – Falcons

The Bengals, Cowboys, Packers and Raiders lead the way in comp picks this year with four. The Cardinals and Texans each snagged three, the Vikings own two, and the Falcons, Ravens, Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, Patriots, Giants, and Buccaneers each have one.

22 comments 2018 NFL Draft Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants Newsstand Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Falcons Begin Talks With Kicker Matt Bryant

By Dallas Robinson | at February 21, 2018 8:53 pm

The Falcons have initiated contract negotiations with pending free agent kicker Matt Bryant, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Bryant will turn 43 years old before the 2018 season gets underway, but like fellow aging placekicker Adam Vinatieri (who appears to be nearing his own new deal with the Colts), Bryant hasn’t shown any signs of age. Last year, Bryant converted 87.2% of his field goals — good for 12th in the NFL — and made eight-of-nine attempts from 50+ yards. The eight attempts from greater than 50 yards were an NFL high, and a sign that Bryant still offers a booming leg.

Bryant was perfect on extra point tries, as he made all 35 of his attempts on the year. He also fared well in Football Outsiders‘ advanced metrics, which rank kickers based on how their field goal attempts compare to the league-average conversion rate from the same distance. Bryant offered 6.4 points through field goals and extra points, which ranked ninth in the NFL.

Under the terms of a three-year extension he inked in 2015, Bryant had been collecting an annual salary of $2.833MM (12th among kickers). He figures to see a bump in pay due to his recent production, and could see his per year paycheck rise into the $3-3.5MM range.

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Top 3 Offseason Needs: Atlanta Falcons

By Dallas Robinson | at February 21, 2018 7:48 pm

In advance of March 14, the start of free agency in the NFL, Pro Football Rumors will detail each team’s three most glaring roster issues. We’ll continue this year’s series with the Atlanta Falcons, who finished with a 10-6 record before being bounced in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

Depth Chart (via Roster Resource)

Pending Free Agents:

Ricardo Allen, S (RFA)
Matt Bryant, K
Adrian Clayborn, DE
Derrick Coleman, FB
Taylor Gabriel, WR
Ben Garland, OL (RFA)
Kemal Ishmael, S
Leon McFadden, CB
Sharrod Neasman, S (ERFA)
Austin Pasztor, T
Dontari Poe, DT
LaRoy Reynolds, LB
Andre Roberts, WR
Ahtyba Rubin, DT
Jordan Tripp, LB
Courtney Upshaw, DE
Terron Ward, RB (RFA)
Sean Weatherspoon, LB
Nick Williams, WR (RFA)
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB

Top 10 Cap Hits for 2018:

Matt Ryan, QB: $21,650,000
Julio Jones, WR: $12,900,000
Desmond Trufant, CB: $12,900,000
Jake Matthews, T: $12,496,000
Alex Mack, C: $11,050,000
Robert Alford, CB: $9,600,000
Andy Levitre, G: $8,375,000
Mohamed Sanu, WR: $7,400,000
Ryan Schraeder, T: $6,500,000
Derrick Shelby, DE: $5,750,000

Other:

Projected cap space (via Over the Cap): $12,035,622
26th pick in draft
Must exercise or decline 2019 fifth-year option for DE Vic Beasley

Three Needs:

1) Bring in at least one starting guard: The problem with boasting a solid core on both sides of the ball is that cap space gets eaten up quickly. The Falcons project to only have ~$12MM in available salary cap room this offseason, and even if the club makes a few predictable cuts, it’s difficult to see their funds rising much above $20MM. But with the small amount of cap space that Atlanta does possess, it should target a clear upgrade on the interior of its offensive line.

The Falcons could potentially need two new guards to play alongside All-Pro center Alex Mack, depending on what they do with incumbent left guard Andy Levitre. Acquired from the Titans prior to the 2015 season, Levitre has been a solid starter in Atlanta, but he’s coming off a relatively down campaign that ended with a trip to injured reserve. The Falcons can create $7MM in cap savings by releasing Levitre this offseason, but they could also approach the 31-year-old about a contract restructure that reduces his cap charge and keeps him on the roster.

At right guard, 2016 sixth-round pick Wes Schweitzer played nearly offensive snap for the Falcons, but graded as just the No. 54 guard among 77 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, which assigned Schweitzer poor marks in both the run and pass game. The majority of writers at The Falcoholic — SB Nation’s excellent Falcons blog — don’t believe Schweitzer will return as a starting guard in 2018, but Atlanta does have other possible solutions on its roster. 2017 fourth-rounder Sean Harlow could be in for an increased role, as could Ty Sambrailo, whom the Falcons acquired from the Broncos last September.

While Atlanta would surely love to poach Andrew Norwell from the division rival Panthers, the club won’t be able to afford a guard that is expected to reset the positional market. However, given that the Falcons are certainly in win-now mode, the perfect guard fit may have just become available: Josh Sitton will now become a free agent when the market opens on March 14 after the Bears declined his $8MM option for 2018. Sitton will be 32 years old when next season gets underway, but that shouldn’t scare Atlanta, which is squarely in its contention window and won’t be adverse to inking a veteran player to a multi-year deal. A two-year, backloaded pact that allows Sitton to collect that $8MM he won’t be earning from Chicago could make sense for both sides.

If Sitton lands elsewhere, the Falcons should still have their pick of veteran guards, and the sheer volume of available experienced players at the position could potentially reduce prices overall. The Saints’ Senio Kelemete has proven himself all over the offensive line, and would offer Atlanta positional versatility at positions beyond guard. Zach Fulton (Chiefs) is only 26 years old and offers 46 starts worth of experience. Alex Boone, Spencer Long, Matt Slauson, Brandon Fusco, Jahri Evans, Josh Kline…the Falcons’ primary weakness has a ton of free agent panaceas, so the club shouldn’t struggle to find a resolution.

A draft selection is also on the table for the Falcons, but keep in mind that general manager Thomas Dimitroff has only selected one interior offensive linemen — Peter Konz in 2012 — prior to the third round. Atlanta either doesn’t value the guard position very highly, or believes it can find competent options later in the draft. Perhaps the Falcons take a shot on Texas’ Connor Williams (who many teams are viewing as a guard) if he slips to the bottom of the first round, but they’ll probably look to find a mid-round gem instead. Wyatt Teller (Virginia Tech), Sean Welsh (Iowa), and Skyler Phillips (Idaho State) are among the collegiate players who could be available at the beginning of Day 3, per Dane Brugler and Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com.

2) Reorganize the defensive line: Only eight 4-3 defensive tackles saw at least 70% playtime in 2017, and the Falcons boasted two of them in Grady Jarrett and Dontari Poe. Jarrett is one of the better interior defenders in the NFL and is now eligible for an extension, but Poe is scheduled to hit free agency in March. While Atlanta could pursue an extension with Poe in the coming weeks, it might be worthwhile to allow the 27-year-old to reach the open market and assess his value before re-opening talks.

Poe was one of the top defensive tackles available in 2017, but even after garnering interest from multiple clubs around the league, he was forced to settle for a one-year, $8MM deal. Now that he’s now a year older and has nearly 800 more snaps worth of wear, will teams now be willing to commit to Poe for the long term? Poe will likely be targeting something in the Johnathan Hankins range (three years, $27MM, with $10MM in guarantees), but it’s possible he’s not able to reach that payday. The Falcons should hold off on re-signing Poe in the hopes that his price comes down as a result of a weak market.

If Poe is not retained, Atlanta will likely use an early round draft pick on a new defensive tackle. Josh Norris of Rotoworld and Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com had the same idea in their most recent mock drafts, as both sent Florida’s Taven Bryan to the Falcons at pick No. 26. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com provides the best prospect profiles around, and he says the 6″4, 290-pound Bryan “flashes disruptive potential that is waiting to be fully cultivated” but notes the ex-Gator’s “below-average power and contact balance.” The 2018 draft class offers a good number of interior options, so perhaps Vita Vea (Stanford), Da’Ron Payne (Alabama), Harrison Phillips (Stanford), or Maurice Hurst (Michigan) could fall to the end of the first round.Read more

The Falcons may dip into the free agent market if Poe gets away, but I wouldn’t expect them to offer any high-end contracts or sign any older players. Getting younger up front and keeping costs in order (especially with a Jarrett extension coming soon) should be the club’s top priorities. Interior defenders such as Justin Ellis, Beau Allen, Jay Bromley, and Dominique Easley are all age-27 or younger, and none should expect to land hefty deals this offseason, making them all fits for Atlanta. Meanwhile, Jaye Howard — who was an above-average lineman as recently as 2016 — could be an option given that he played under Falcons defensive line coach Bryant Young at Florida.

Atlanta should be mostly set on the edge, as Vic Beasley will move back to defensive end full-time to play opposite 2017 first-round pick Takkarist McKinley. However, the Falcons could choose to trim the fat by cutting pass rushers who haven’t lived up to their contracts. Jack Crawford‘s three-year deal never made much sense for Atlanta, and he should be released after suffering a torn biceps last season. With Beasley and McKinley both available, the Falcons may not run as much of a rotation as they did in 2017, so one of Brooks Reed or Derrick Shelby could also be sent packing in a move that would save at least $3MM.

It wouldn’t be a total surprise if Atlanta completely revamps its defensive end depth this spring by cutting Crawford, Reed, Shelby, and allowing Adrian Clayborn in free agency. If that happens, I’d expect the Falcons to target a young edge rusher in the draft while searching for a veteran during the free agent period. William Hayes stands out as a candidate to join the Atlanta roster, given his outstanding track record on run defense, his locker room leadership, and his likely low price tag. For some reason or other, Hayes has never been valued as an asset around the NFL (he was traded last year for a 16-spot drop in draft slots), meaning he shouldn’t cost much on the open market.

3) Secure Matt Ryan for the long haul: At $20.75MM, Matt Ryan‘s annual salary ranks just 14th in the NFL. As we all know, quarterback contracts are a game of musical chairs: whomever signs the most recent deal is likely to garner the largest paycheck. Luckily for Ryan, he has only one year left on his pact at a time when Jimmy Garoppolo and, in a few weeks, Kirk Cousins, will become the league’s highest-paid signal-callers. Ryan has a longer track record of success than either of those quarterbacks, and he’ll top both of their contracts when the time comes.

The Falcons, for their part, know a massive deal is just around the corner. At this time last year, team owner Arthur Blank admitted Ryan will likely need to be made the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback, and Dimitroff reiterated last month that a Ryan extension remains Atlanta’s primary focus. The only question, then, is timing: Do the Falcons wait until Drew Brees signs a new deal this offseason? Do they hold off until Aaron Rodgers inks an extension, perhaps in the coming months? Or do they bite the bullet and hand Ryan a new contract right now?

If Atlanta reaches an agreement in the near future, Ryan would likely reach the $28MM per year mark, but the veteran quarterback has every reason to wait and see what Cousins lands on the open market. Thus, I’d expect a Ryan extension to come this summer, after Cousins and Brees have signed. Rodgers’ contract status will come into play, but there should be every expectation that Ryan nears a $30MM annual salary with more than $50MM in guarantees. The guarantee figure, though, isn’t all that important, as quarterbacks of Ryan’s ilk almost never get released, and therefore, typically earn the entirety of their pact.

The Falcons’ lack of 2018 cap space will be another factor in any Ryan discussions. The 32-year-old Ryan is due a $19.25MM base salary in 2018, but Atlanta could roll that number into Ryan’s overall guarantee by converting most of that salary figure into a portion of his signing bonus. By giving Ryan a rather large signing bonus that will prorate on their salary cap, the Falcons should be able to keep their 2018 costs down while still retaining Ryan for the foreseeable future.

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Coaching Rumors: Cowboys, Cards, Falcons

By Zachary Links | at February 14, 2018 3:11 pm

The Cowboys are expected to name Doug Nussmeier as tight ends coach, sources tell ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (on Twitter). Nussmeier has a lengthy resume, including stints as the offensive coordinator for Florida, Michigan, and Alabama. The former NFL backup quarterback also served as the Rams’ quarterbacks coach under Scott Linehan, the Cowboys’ current OC.

Bills Hire Terry Robiskie As WRs Coach

By Dallas Robinson | at February 14, 2018 9:40 am

The Bills have hired former Titans offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie as wide receivers coach, the club announced today.

Robiskie, 63, produced middling results as Tennessee’s offensive play-caller during the past two seasons, and it’s believed former Titans head coach Mike Mularkey‘s refusal to fire Robiskie led to Mularkey’s own dismissal. While Robiskie may have a lackluster track record as an offensive coordinator, he does offer years of experience as a wide receivers coach. He’s led wideouts in Washington, Cleveland, Miami, and Atlanta over the past 30 years, and experienced great success with the Falcons, with whom he coached stars such as Roddy White and Julio Jones.

In Buffalo, Robiskie won’t quite be working with another White/Jones combination, as the Bills currently possess one of the least inspiring wide receiver depth charts in the league. 2017 trade acquisition Kelvin Benjamin and 2017 second-round pick Zay Jones are the club’s top two pass-catchers, while Buffalo has five wideouts — including Jordan Matthews and Deonte Thompson — headed for free agency.

Before signing on with the Bills, Robiskie also discussed a reunion with the Falcons, with whom he would have become a running backs coach, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.

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Updated 2018 NFL Draft Order

By Zachary Links | at February 5, 2018 8:54 am

With the Super Bowl in the books, we now know the draft order for the entire first round of the 2018 draft. Here’s the rundown:

1. Cleveland Browns (0-16)

2. New York Giants (3-13)

3. Indianapolis Colts (4-12)

4. Cleveland Browns (via the 4-12 Houston Texans)

5. Denver Broncos (5-11)

6. New York Jets (5-11)

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)

8. Chicago Bears (5-11)

T-9. Oakland Raiders (6-10)

T-9. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) (Note: The Raiders and 49ers have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broken by a coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 9 and the other club receiving the No. 10 pick.)

11. Miami Dolphins (6-10)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)

13. Washington Redskins (7-9)

14. Green Bay Packers (7-9)

15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)

16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)

17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)

18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)

20. Detroit Lions (9-7)

21. Buffalo Bills (9-7)

22. Buffalo Bills (via the 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs)

23. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)

24. Carolina Panthers (11-5)

25. Tennessee Titans (9-7)

26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)

27. New Orleans Saints (11-5)

28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)

30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3)

31. New England Patriots (13-3)

32. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)

21 comments 2018 NFL Draft Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman Avoids Surgery

By Ben Levine | at February 3, 2018 11:34 am

Despite playing through a MCL and PCL ailment towards the end of the season, it sounds like Devonta Freeman avoided a serious injury. Appearing on PFT Live, the Falcons running back told Mike Florio that he won’t need surgery this offseason.

“I’m getting better,” Freeman said. “I just went to go get a second opinion. Thank God I didn’t have to get surgery. So now I just have to rehab and get it back stronger and be ready for next season.”

As Florio writes, the first opinion also indicated that Freeman wouldn’t require surgery. Instead, the running back will rehab throughout the season, and Florio suggests that avoiding an operation will “accelerates his timeline.”

When asked if he’d be available for the beginning of offseason programs, Freeman indicated that he’d take his time returning to the field.

“Possibly,” Freeman said. “But I’m going to take my time and let it heal so I won’t have to deal with little knicks and knacks throughout the season, because that’s the most important time for me. So I’m going to take my time and let it heal, get stronger. I need to be free when I’m out there.”

The former fourth-round pick had another productive season in 2017. The 25-year-old finished the campaign with 865 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 196 carries. He also added another 36 receptions for 317 yards and one score. If Freeman’s recovery doesn’t go as planned, the Falcons could easily slot running back Tevin Coleman into the starting lineup.

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