Falcons Re-Sign LS Liam McCullough; Team Will Not Tender RFAs Dee Alford, Nathan Landman
This year’s salary cap spike left the low-end RFA tender north of $3MM. Some teams are passing on paying role players that salary. The Falcons are among them.
Atlanta is not tendering RFAs Dee Alford and Nathan Landman, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman. The low-end tender will cost $3.26MM, and the Falcons are passing on keeping Alford and Landman at that rate. These decisions will send the cornerback and linebacker into unrestricted free agency.
[RELATED: 2025 NFL Top 50 Free Agents]
Alford has been Atlanta’s primary slot cornerback for the past two seasons. He played a career-high 69% of the Falcons’ defensive snaps last season, which came after the team used him on 53% of its defensive plays in 2023. One of the team’s AJ Terrell complementary pieces, Alford saw his coverage numbers worsen.
A UDFA out of Tusculum, Alford allowed a 72% completion rate as the closest defender in 2024, working out to a passer rating of 117.9. The Falcons fired their defensive coordinator (Jimmy Lake) after one season, and replacement Jeff Ulbrich may be ready to make significant changes. Alford’s 724 snaps last season trailed only Terrell among Atlanta corners.
Landman stepped in as a replacement for starter Troy Andersen in 2023. He started 23 games over the past two seasons and delivered steady production, forcing six fumbles in that span. The former UDFA out of Colorado made 110 tackles in 2023; seven of those were behind the line of scrimmage. Landman did not record any TFLs last season, missing time due to a quad injury, but Pro Football Focus slotted him as the No. 39 off-ball linebacker. He stands to generate some interest as a UFA soon, though Auman adds a return at a lower rate could be in play. Landman also could potentially draw a higher salary on the open market.
While separations could loom on Atlanta’s defense, the team is keeping one of its specialists. Long snapper Liam McCullough re-signed with the team Thursday. It is a four-year deal, likely putting the ex-Ohio State UDFA at or near the top of the long snapper market.
McCullough was eligible for restricted free agency but was not a realistic candidate to be tendered, as not even the highest-paid deep snappers barely earns $1.5MM on average. This deal will keep McCullough in the fold; he has been the Falcons’ long snapper since 2022, playing in every Atlanta game during that stretch.
Falcons Re-Sign LS Liam McCullough
The Falcons don’t have too many free agent decisions to make from their 2023 roster, and they got an important one out of the way today by re-signing long snapper Liam McCullough. As an exclusive rights free agent, McCullough’s only option was to sign his qualifying offer and return to Atlanta for 2024.
McCullough has been around since 2020, when he went undrafted out of Ohio State, but because he spent his rookie and sophomore seasons on practice squads in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh, McCullough only has two accrued seasons, qualifying him as an exclusive rights free agent. Both of those accrued seasons have come in the last two years with the Falcons.
McCullough signed with the Falcons in 2022, replacing former Pro Bowl long snapper Josh Harris, who had departed for the Chargers in free agency. The 26-year-old McCullough has played every game in the last two years for Atlanta, becoming a key member of a Falcons special teams trio that includes kicker Younghoe Koo and punter Bradley Pinion.
The team has two more exclusive rights free agents to handle this offseason. Atlanta will need to make a decision on whether or not to extend qualifying offers to linebacker Nathan Landman and center Ryan Neuzil, as well. Landman finished third on the team in tackles this year, starting 14 games in his sophomore season. Neuzil proved to be a crucial depth piece, as well, starting four games in 2023. The Falcons also have three restricted free agents (quarterback Feleipe Franks, offensive tackle Ethan Greenidge, and defensive tackle Albert Huggins) that they will need to make decisions on this offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/22/23
Here are some minor transactions from around the league today:
Atlanta Falcons
- Re-signed: LS Liam McCullough
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: G Dieter Eiselen
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: LS Cal Adomitis
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: K Tristan Vizcaino
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Kevin Toliver II
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: G Calvin Throckmorton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LS Christian Kuntz
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/27/22
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LS Liam McCullough
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Donnie Lewis, WR Trey Quinn
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Curtis Bolton
- Waived with non-football injury designation: TE Hunter Bryant
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: QB Anthony Gordon
Raiders Cut Seven Players
The Raiders made a series of transactions today to reduce their roster, with a handful of notable players earning their walking papers. Per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez (on Twitter), the Raiders released cornerback De’Vante Bausby and defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks. The team also waived quarterback Case Cookus, kicker Dominik Eberle, long snapper Liam McCullough, running back Bo Scarbrough, and wide receiver Caleb Scott.
Bausby joined the Raiders earlier this offseason after spending the 2020 season with the Broncos (two stints) and the Cardinals. He actually had his most productive NFL season, collecting 20 tackles and five passes defended in 10 games (three starts). The 28-year-old previously got some playing time with the Bears and Eagles, appearing in 26 career games.
Westbrooks signed with the Raiders just last week, but his second stint with the organization has already come to an end. The 30-year-old defensive lineman appeared in 61 games for the Rams between the 2015 and 2018 seasons, collecting 51 tackles, nine sacks, and one forced fumble. However, he hasn’t seen the field since that 2018 campaign.
Scarbrough made a name for himself following a five-game stint as a starter with the Lions in 2019. He collected 382 yards from scrimmage that season, but he only saw the field for one game with the Seahawks in 2020.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/6/21
We’ll keep track of the latest reserve/futures deals here:
Arizona Cardinals
- TE Ian Bunting, G Deion Calhoun, DT Michael Dogbe, WR Rico Gafford, G Sean Harlow, WR Krishawn Hogan, K Brett Maher, G Koda Martin, S Chris Miller, DE Shareef Miller, RB Khalfani Muhammad, CB Picasso Nelson, DT David Parry, WR A.J. Richardson, LB Terrance Smith, LB Reggie Walker, WR JoJo Ward, LB Evan Weaver, WR Isaac Whitney, CB Jace Whittaker
Denver Broncos
Indianapolis Colts
- CB Nick Nelson, TE Jordan Thomas
Las Vegas Raiders
- TE Nick Bowers, K Dominik Eberle, DB Rashaan Gaulden, DE Gerri Green, OL Jaryd Jones-Smith, OL Erik Magnuson, LS Liam McCullough, LB James Onwualu, DT Niles Scott, OT Kamaal Seymour, CB Kemah Siverand, LB Javin White
Miami Dolphins
- DE Nick Coe, S Brian Cole, CB Javaris Davis, CB Tino Ellis, C Tyler Gauthier, LB Kylan Johnson, WR Kirk Merritt, TE Chris Myarick, OG Durval Queiroz Neto, DE Tyshun Render, QB Reid Sinnett, LS Rex Sunahara
New England Patriots
New York Giants
- RB Jordan Chunn
San Francisco 49ers
- TE Chase Harrell, DB Jared Mayden
Steelers Trim Roster Down
The entire AFC North is now finished as the Steelers became the latest team to trim their roster to 53 players. Here are all the moves, we’ll recap the most notable ones at the bottom:
- QB Paxton Lynch
- DL Daniel McCullers
- WR Ryan Switzer
- DB Antoine Brooks Jr.
- RB Kerrith Whyte Jr.
- RB Trey Edmunds
- RB Wendell Smallwood
- WR Saeed Blacknall
- WR DeAndre Thompkins
- WR Deon Cain
- WR Amara Darboh
- OL Christian DiLauro
- OL John Keenoy
- OL Derwin Gray
- OL Anthony Coyle
- OL Jarron Jones
- TE Kyle Markway
- TE Kevin Rader
- DL Cavon Walker
- DL Henry Mondeaux
- DL Calvin Taylor
- LB Tuzar Skipper
- LB Jayrone Elliott
- DB Trajan Bandy
- DB John Battle
- P Corliss Waitman
- LS Liam McCullough
Lynch is probably the most well known of these names. The former Broncos first-round bust signed with the Steelers last year as insurance after multiple quarterback injuries. He’s running out of chances. Switzer has mostly contributed as a returner with Pittsburgh and Dallas, although he did have 36 catches with the Steelers in 2018.
Smallwood was one of the Eagles’ main running backs in 2018, but didn’t get too many touches with Washington last year. He’ll likely pop up somewhere else soon. Brooks Jr. was the Steelers’ sixth-round pick in this past draft, so he’s likely ticketed for the practice squad if he clears waivers.
McCullers has been with the Steelers the past six years so his is a significant departure even though the nose tackle only played 12 percent of the defensive snaps last season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/20
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Craig Reynolds
Buffalo Bills
- Released: P Lachlan Edwards
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: CB Derrek Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: C Jon Toth
- Placed on IR: DE Curtis Weaver
Denver Broncos
- Waived: LS Wes Farnsworth
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DT Kevin Wilkins
- Waived: DT Olive Sagapolu
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: RB Bruce Anderson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Avery Moss
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Tavien Feaster
- Released: WR Tony Brown
New York Jets
- Released: RB Pete Guerriero
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Jayrone Elliott, LB Liam McCullough
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR River Cracraft
- Released: WR Jaron Brown
- Waived/Injured: DL Jonathan Kongbo
Tennessee Titans
- Released/Deal Voided: S Walt Aikens
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here. For the running list of opt out decisions, check out PFR’s 2020 Opt Out Tracker.
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: OL Jake Benzinger, S Reggie Floyd, WR Rashad Medaris
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: TE Jerell Adams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released: WR Moritz Bohringer, RB Devwah Whaley
Cleveland Browns
- Released: RB Brian Herrien
Detroit Lions
- Claimed: DT Daylon Mack (from Ravens)
- Signed: DT Jashon Cornell
Green Bay Packers
- Released: QB Jalen Morton, FB Elijah Wellman
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: DB Jordan Brown, TE Paul Butler, K Dominik Eberle, LB Marquel Lee, C Erik Magnuson, LB Liam McCullough, WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): CB Picasso Nelson
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: WR Davion Davis, DB Kemon Hall
New Orleans Saints
- Released: WR Tommylee Lewis, DE Gus Cumberlander, S Chris Johnson, OG Adrian Magee, RB Taquan Mizzell, WR Maurice Harris, DT Taylor Stallworth
New York Jets
- Waived: OL Ben Braden, RB Trenton Cannon, OLB Wyatt Ray
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-Signed: DE Alex Barrett
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-Signed: DE Branden Jackson
- Waived: DL Josh Avery
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: G Zac Kerin
Washington Football Team
- Released: DE Cameron Malveaux, DB Maurice Smith, TE Caleb Wilson, RB Josh Ferguson