Falcons Agree To Sign 22 UDFAs
SATURDAY, 6:05pm: The Falcons announced that they’ve added a trio of undrafted free agents on Saturday:
- OL Shahbaz Ahmed (Temple)
- WR David Glidden (Oklahoma State)
- DE Brandon Williams (Southern Illinois).
The Falcons also announced that they waived four of their previously signed undrafted free agents: Gerald Dixon Jr., Alex Fifita, Malachi Jones, and David Richards.
THURSDAY, 4:21pm: Despite the fact that Atlanta only selected six players during last weekend’s draft, the Falcons’ rookie minicamp will be a busy place. The team confirmed today that it has signed 22 undrafted free agents to fill out its roster, with another 27 free agent rookies headed to the minicamp to try out for the club.
The full list of 27 tryout players can be found right here. Listed below are the 22 players who have agreed to contracts with the Falcons:
- DE Josh Dawson (Georgia)
- DT Gerald Dixon Jr. (South Carolina)
- OL Cody Elenz (Lamar)
- OL Alex Fifita (Fresno State)
- LB Torrey Green (Utah State)
- DT Cory Johnson (Kentucky)
- WR Daje Johnson (Texas)
- CB Devonte Johnson (Weber State)
- WR Malachi Jones (Appalachian State)
- NT Chris Mayes (Georgia)
- WR J.D. McKissic (Arkansas State)
- LB Ivan McLennan (Washington State)
- CB David Mims II (Texas State)
- DB Sharrod Neasman (Florida Atlantic)
- TE Joshua Perkins (Washington)
- DB Brian Poole (Florida)
- FB Will Ratelle (North Dakota)
- OL Jake Reed (Indiana)
- WR David Richards (Arizona)
- K Nick Rose (Texas)
- CB Jordan Sefon (St. Cloud State)
- RB Brandon Wilds (South Carolina)
Falcons Mulling Whether To Sign Leon Hall
Given quarterback Sam Bradford‘s unhappiness in Philadelphia, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk examined the seemingly far-fetched possibility of the 28-year-old retiring – at least temporarily. Bradford would have to surrender the $11MM signing bonus he received from the Eagles earlier this offseason if he were to walk away, but he would offset that loss somewhat by avoiding any fines or forfeitures that would accompany a potential holdout.
The appeal of retiring from Bradford’s point of view is that he could wait for another team’s starting quarterback to suffer an injury, whether it be this year or in 2017, thus leading that club to approach the Eagles about a trade. It would be similar to the situation Carson Palmer found himself in five years ago as a disgruntled member of the Bengals. Early in the 2011 season, the Raiders lost starter Jason Campbell to an injury and then made a trade with the Bengals to bring Palmer out of his short-lived retirement.
Most teams’ starting quarterback situations are set right now, and the Eagles haven’t shown a willingness to move Bradford in the wake of trading up to No. 2 in the draft for Carson Wentz and signing Chase Daniel, so Florio opines that retirement could be his most sensible option.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- There was potential for a New York-New York trade in the first round of last week’s draft, according to the New York Daily News’ Gary Myers, who reports that the Jets offered their first- (20th overall) and second-rounders to the Giants for No. 10. The Jets had their sights set on Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, but the Giants didn’t want to move down and risk losing out on Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple. Had the Giants accepted the Jets’ offer, they would have either taken TCU wideout Josh Doctson or the best cornerback available (likely Houston’s William Jackson III) at No. 20, per Myers. Doctson ultimately went 22nd to Washington and Jackson landed with the Bengals two picks later. Meanwhile, instead of nabbing Tunsil, the Jets kept their top two picks and used them on Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee and Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg.
- The Falcons are currently mulling whether to sign free agent cornerback Leon Hall, who visited them this week, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Hall would add depth to a Falcons defensive backfield in need of it, especially given the four-game suspension the league handed Jalen Collins, as McClure writes. The ex-Michigan standout’s entire NFL career has thus far been spent in Cincinnati, where he totaled 26 interceptions from 2007-15, though it doesn’t appear he’ll return to the Bengals. Aside from the Falcons, Hall has also visited the Giants, Cardinals and Cowboys this offseason, but his age (31) and injury history (he has torn both Achilles) are seemingly working against him in landing a contract.
- With the draft in the books, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com took a look at six Lions veterans whose jobs could now be in jeopardy. Meinke points to quarterback Dan Orlovsky, center Travis Swanson, offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas, linebacker Kyle Van Noy, defensive tackle Gabe Wright and long snapper Don Muhlbach as players who aren’t locks to remain in the Motor City.
Falcons Sign Entire Draft Class
The Falcons have now signed their entire draft class, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com writes. Strong safety Keanu Neal (whose signing was completed days ago), linebacker Deion Jones (second round), tight end Austin Hooper (third round), linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (fourth round), guard Wes Schweitzer (sixth round), and wide receiver Devin Fuller (seventh round) have all put pen to paper. 
Jones, an LSU product, finished out his college career in style with 88 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and three passes defensed. Jones started only one game through his first three years in Baton Rouge, but he exploded when given the opportunity in his senior season. Jones impressed scouts with a 4.38 second 40-yard-dash at his Pro Day and despite concerns about being undersized, he drew interest from a host of teams looking for a tough linebacker.
In other Falcons news, linebacker O’Brien Schofield is lobbying hard for a reunion. Meanwhile, free agent cornerback Leon Hall remains on the open market after his visit with Atlanta.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Falcons, Keanu Neal Agree To Terms
The Falcons have become the first NFL team to agree to terms with their first-round pick from the 2016 draft, striking a deal with safety Keanu Neal less than a week after selecting him. The team announced the agreement today in a press release, adding (via Twitter) that Neal will officially sign his contract when he reports to the team’s rookie minicamp on Thursday.
A league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that Neal informed the Falcons he wanted to focus on playing football, rather than negotiating a contract. That prompted the two sides to get the rookie deal for the Florida product done quickly, allowing him to get under contract before fully participating in the club’s offseason activities.
Neal’s four-year pact will be worth about $10.738MM in total, with a signing bonus of $6.009MM and a 2016 cap figure of $1.952MM, according to Over the Cap. As is the case for all first-round picks, Neal will have a fifth-year option attached to the end of his contract, allowing the Falcons to keep him under contract through 2020 if they eventually pick up that option.
Neal, a favorite of Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, came off the board with the 17th overall pick last Thursday.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Leon Hall Visiting Giants, Falcons
8:30pm: Hall is now on his way to visit the Falcons, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.
8:35am: Only four players who earned either a spot or an honorable mention in our top 50 free agents list are still on the market, and one of those four will be visiting a team today. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter), the Giants are hosting former Bengals cornerback Leon Hall for a visit.
The Giants have fortified the cornerback position significantly since the 2016 league year began, signing standout free agent Janoris Jenkins and using their first-round pick on Ohio State’s Eli Apple. Those two corners will team with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to form a strong top three, but Big Blue could still use a veteran like Hall, who has extensive experience playing in the slot.
Hall, 31, has spent his entire nine-year NFL career to date in Cincinnati, playing 121 regular-season games since 2007 for the Bengals, and starting 105 of them. However, the Bengals haven’t been overly aggressive when it comes to re-signing their former first-round pick, and used this year’s first-rounder to add another cornerback in Houston’s William Jackson III.
Teams like the Cardinals and Cowboys have also expressed some interest in Hall – and brought him in for visits – so far this offseason, and the Dolphins may be lurking as a potential suitor as well, given the presence of former Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph as the new defensive coordinator in Miami. However, there appears to be some concern about Hall’s health — the veteran cornerback has suffered two major Achilles injuries since 2011, and recently underwent back surgery to repair a disc issue.
While Hall’s back could be a problem, he has managed to recover from those Achilles injuries impressively. The former Michigan Wolverine has played in 29 regular-season games over the last two seasons since last tearing his Achilles in 2013, and received solid grades from Pro Football Focus in 2015, ranking 33rd out of 111 qualified corners.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
O’Brien Schofield Wants To Rejoin Falcons
Linebacker O’Brien Schofield is lobbying hard to return to the Falcons. However, it’s not clear if the interest is being reciprocated at this point in the offseason. 
“You know I’ll bring 100 percent to that locker room and to the field,” Schofield told ESPN.com. “And you know, without a shadow of a doubt, I would help that ballclub. I’m looking for a more dominant role as a nickel pass-rusher. I would have to be able to compete as the nickel rusher.”
The veteran, who signed a one-year, $1.7MM deal with Atlanta last year, finished out the year with 28 tackles, four tackles for losses, two sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and one forced fumble. The Falcons did make Schofield an offer this spring, but it was not to the veteran’s liking. As of this writing, it appears that there is no longer an offer on the table from the Falcons. In last week’s draft, the Falcons added LSU linebacker Deion Jones in the second round and Minnesota linebacker De’Vondre Campbell in the fourth round, so they’re not exactly desperate for help in that area.
The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) weren’t necessarily enamored with Schofield’s play last season. Schofield earned a 69.0 overall grade, placing him as the No. 71 edge defender in the NFL last season. Fellow veteran linebackers Kroy Biermann, Calvin Pace, and Darryl Tapp finished out with similar grades and they are also presently without NFL employment.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Devin Hester Aims To Remain With Falcons
- Receiver and return man Devin Hester underwent toe surgery in January and is scheduled to earn $3MM in 2016, making his hold on a roster spot in Atlanta tenuous. Still, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com writes, Hester expects to remain with the Falcons and contribute to the team as long as he can make a full recovery.
Extra Points: Cowboys, Lynch, Jaguars, Falcons
The Cowboys reportedly made an effort to trade back into the first round to take a shot at drafting quarterback Paxton Lynch, and though the club ultimately stayed put, Jerry Jones conveyed regret that Dallas didn’t make the deal. “I probably should have overpaid,” says Jones, according to Drew Davidson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram (Twitter link).
Here’s the latest on the draft as the undrafted free agent signing frenzy gets underway…
- The Jaguars have a fifth-year option decision to make, as the club will have the choice of extending left tackle Luke Joeckel‘s contract through the 2017 season. Jacksonville GM Dave Caldwell says he’ll speak with Joeckel about the option on Monday, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter link).
- “Heck no” was Falcons head coach Dan Quinn‘s response when asked if receiver Devin Hester had been cleared for any activity after undergoing toe surgery in January, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. GM Thomas Dimitroff said in February that Atlanta will re-evaluate Hester’s status with the club when he’s fully healthy.
- Pass rush was an area of need for the Colts, but the prospects that appealed to GM Ryan Grigson came off the board early, he tells Mike Chappelle of FOX59 (Twitter link), adding that Indianapolis wasn’t going to allow need to trump its board.
Texans Acquire No. 50 Pick From Falcons
The Texans have moved up two spots in the draft, acquiring the 50th overall pick from the Falcons, tweets Jenna Laine. Upon moving from No. 52 to No. 50, the Texans selected Notre Dame center Nick Martin, according to Laine (Twitter link). In addition to receiving the 52nd pick, the Falcons acquired No. 195, reports D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter).
For the Texans, the addition of Martin should help make up for the loss of Ben Jones in free agency. Jones started 32 straight regular-season games for the Jets the previous two years before signing with the division-rival Titans. The Texans certainly hope Nick Martin will be anywhere near as effective as his brother, Cowboys two-time Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin.
Draft Rumors: Day 2, Ragland, Ravens, Cowboys
The consensus from evaluators is that there are more talented players still available today than they had anticipated, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That means that we could see a lot of trade activity take place early on in the second round. Rapoport adds (via Twitter) that the Browns, Titans, and Cowboys, who hold the first three picks of the second round, are all getting phone calls about possible trades.
Here are a few more draft updates and rumors, with the second round less than two hours from getting underway:
- Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter link) surveyed 11 teams about linebacker Reggie Ragland‘s enlarged aorta and none of those clubs expressed concern. Ragland, he adds, is still expected to come off the board early on in tonight’s proceedings.
- Reports last night suggested that the Ravens and Cowboys discussed a trade involving the fourth and sixth overall picks, but Dallas balked because Baltimore would have selected running back Ezekiel Elliott. Per Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the Ravens actually wanted to move up for defensive back Jalen Ramsey. However, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets that the Cowboys believed the Ravens were eyeing Elliott, and didn’t want to miss out on both Elliott and Ramsey by sliding down two spots.
- Agent Jimmy Sexton helped to stop Laremy Tunsil‘s slide on Thursday night by having his client call into war rooms and talk to team decision makers, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. In those conversations, Tunsil owned the past drug use shown in the video.
- Here’s a fun fact from Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter): Chip Kelly’s NFL teams have used 11 of their 23 picks on Pac-12 players, the most picks from a single conference by any head coach in that time. The 49ers, of course, used their two first-round picks last night on Oregon’s DeForest Buckner and Stanford guard Joshua Garnett.
- The Cardinals, Panthers, Falcons, and Seahawks are keeping their eyes peeled today for a backup quarterback, Ian Rapoport tweets.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.