Atlanta Falcons' Bargain Guide to the 2015 Offseason
The Atlanta Falcons have a ton of big needs when looking at their current roster. They need to make sure to find good bargains in either free agency or during the draft for at least some starting-caliber talent throughout their roster in case they can't find a premier or potential premier player at the position.
Despite the Falcons having one of the best cap situations in the NFL for the next few seasons as their franchise quarterback is set, and they have over $30 million in cap in 2015, around $50 million in 2016 and around $75 million in 2017 (per calculations and projections here using Spotrac and NFLPA Database data), they should still look for value players be it through the draft or free agency.
Featured Running Back
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Internal Option: Devonta Freeman, 2014 Fourth-Round Pick
With a zone-blocking scheme, the one-cut-and-go style of Devonta Freeman is a perfect fit to gain a ton of yards on the ground. More than that, he's a great option through the air and with play action out of the backfield. He can pass block effectively already and will only improve in that aspect.
If Freeman gets 250-275 carries and 40-50 catches, the Falcons could reasonably get over 1,000 yards rushing and 350-450 yards receiving out of the second-year back. If that happens, they would just need someone to power in touchdowns near the red zone. Maybe Steven Jackson could keep his role in Atlanta after all.
Free-Agent Option: Shane Vereen, New England Patriots
The major tenets of the zone-blocking scheme and the West Coast concepts that new head coach Dan Quinn is going to bring along with him from Seattle are going to emphasize the all-around abilities of a running back. Shane Vereen is coming off the final year of his deal and should be able to come to Atlanta on a reasonable contract.
Vereen's 217 career carries and 107 career receptions would be extremely useful in the Falcons' new schemes. The contract that he would sign likely wouldn't have to break the bank either, as his career production barely breaks 2,000 yards. But in Atlanta, he could be better with his role expanded.
Draft Option: Josh Robinson, Mississippi State
Every team is looking for the next Ray Rice or Maurice Jones-Drew on the field who can create something out of nothing with his bowling-ball style frame. Josh Robinson is a back who could be a great asset in a zone-blocking scheme and has amazing vision in the backfield.
The investment into Robinson would likely be just a fourth or fifth-round pick barring a huge rise at the combine or the private workouts that tend to follow it. Combining Robinson with Devonta Freeman may not be a horrible idea. Especially if they could each get 700-800 yards rushing and 200-250 receiving in 2015.
Coverage Linebacker
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Internal Option: Marquis Spruill, 2014 Fifth-Round Pick
When looking at Dan Quinn's defensive scheme, strong-side linebacker is very important. Sean Weatherspoon should be brought back for the weak-side starting role, but the strong-side role will be an open competition between multiple players including current roster members.
Marquis Spruill is a great athlete who knows how to play inside and weak side in the 4-3. He can cover tight ends effectively and could be a K.J. Wright type within the defense. The question comes from his blitzing abilities, but he showed in the 2014 preseason that he can get pressure shooting gaps.
Free-Agent Option: Bruce Carter, Dallas Cowboys
Bruce Carter wouldn't be a long-term option at linebacker. He'd be a great option to start for a season or two while the Falcons developed that long-term starter. He'd also be a good fit as a secondary option to start at strong-side linebacker to the current Falcons group.
Carter shouldn't be ridiculously expensive either. He doesn't have the body of work to make his next contract too much more than his rookie deal was. Ideally, he'd sign a similar deal to the two-year, $6 million that Mike Peterson signed in 2009 to start for a couple of years.
Draft Option: Quayshawn Nealy, Georgia Tech
A local product who could explode with an excellent combine, Quayshawn Nealy is a good coverage linebacker who has solid instincts both in the run game and in the passing game. His biggest issue comes from the fact that he will have one horrible game then follow it up with one amazing game.
Ideally, Nealy should be selected in the fifth or even sixth round. The Falcons could train him in Quinn's scheme and hope that eventually, he turns into the long-term starter that he has the potential to be. He's not currently rated high by most draft sites, but he has the potential to be a great pro.
Free Safety
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Internal Option: Dezmen Southward, 2014 Third-Round Pick
Dezmen Southward showed some flashes in coverage in 2014 despite also looking lost at times. On one hand, he allowed three completions for over 20 yards on the 12 targets thrown his way. On the other hand, nothing went farther than 25 yards, and he minimized the yards allowed per catch, according to Pro Football Focus.
Even more than that, he's an excellent athlete who has the range to play the deep third of the field and look like a competent player. He's also highly intelligent, and a simplified scheme under Dan Quinn could be ideal for him to produce.
Free-Agent Option: Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs
There are two free safeties in free agency who can actually cover the deep third. The first one is Devin McCourty, but it'd be shocking for him to leave New England and even if he does, it won't be a bargain. The next one is Eric Berry—a man who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
However, Berry has shown that he has the ability to start in the NFL, and if he recovers fully, he could be a unique option for Atlanta in the secondary. Berry is from the Atlanta area and could be a minimum signing that winds up paying off for the long term should he get to 100 percent.
Draft Option: Eric Rowe, Utah
Eric Rowe as a cornerback isn't an ideal fit. However, he was extremely impressive in deep coverage in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. Notice a trend here? These guys have to be able to play that deep third and make plays while also being able to tackle.
Rowe is a solid tackler who can play the deep third and do it well. Atlanta could take him in the mid-rounds should he not rise up the boards due to a good combine. He has the ability to start as a rookie and could be the ball hawk they want on the back-end. His biggest question comes with regards to his hands.
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Tight End
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Internal Option: Levine Toilolo, 2013 Fourth-Round Pick
Despite having a poor season as a run-blocker and with terrible production though the air, Levine Toilolo still has a very good skill set to work with. He's 6'8" and has a big body to box out defenders. He needs to fix his catching, as he tends to try to body catch way too often.
He's also just entering his third year and has a year starting to go with a year learning behind the Bret Hart of the position in Tony Gonzalez—"The best there is. The best there was. The best there ever will be." If he can buy into Kyle Shanahan's offense, the Falcons could have at least an NFL average tight end.
Free-Agent Option: Virgil Green, Denver Broncos
When looking for a value sleeper, you have to look into rare traits. When looking at Virgil Green's athletic profile from the combine, he's one of the most explosive players from the 2011 NFL draft. He posted great 40, 3-cone drill and short shuttle times for his size and profile frame.
Despite being such a great athlete, he's only been able to bring it forward through his blocking abilities. He's an excellent run-blocker. However, with a guy like Matt Ryan throwing to him and a role as the No. 1 tight end, the Falcons could have a sleeper here in Green.
Draft Option: Jesse James, Penn State
Jesse James is a big, quick receiver who plays similar to how Greg Olsen does. He's not an ideal blocker in the run game just yet, but he can learn pretty easily. This tight end class isn't that good, so James could go much higher than his current third-round standing, per CBS Sports, would suggest.
However, he's got the ability to step right in to start and would be an upgrade over 2014's performance from Toilolo. A combination of James and Toilolo in the red zone would also be tough to stop, as they are both over 6'6" and would provide huge matchup problems.
Pass-Rusher
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Internal Option: Jonathan Massaquoi, 2012 Fifth-Round Pick
When someone is assumed to be the starting outside linebacker heading into training camp and practices it all throughout the offseason and then his role gets completely scrapped preseason, he's going to be pissed off. Something similar must have happened with Jonathan Massaquoi in 2014.
Otherwise, the schism between him and the former coaching staff wouldn't make sense. With a fresh start and new coaching staff, Massaquoi could impress with his pass-rushing prowess and ability to bend the edge. He could be the ideal starting strong-side end for the new scheme.
Free-Agent Option: Jabaal Sheard, Cleveland Browns
When looking for a strong-side end, ability to stuff the run is important. However, the Falcons need better pass-rushers. Jabaal Sheard should be the ideal guy who can do a bit of both. He's played outside linebacker in the 3-4 and even some defensive end in the 4-3 during his time with the Browns.
He might want a bigger role than he's currently playing. He'd be ideal for the Cliff Avril role in the new defense and could be Atlanta's best fit on the weak side with less coverage responsibilities. Atlanta is a good fit for him in multiple ways, and he could be the premier pass-rusher without the premier price tag. A price tag around four years, $28.0 million would be ideal to snatch him away from the Browns.
Draft Option: Markus Golden, Missouri
It's very possible for Atlanta to have all three of the players listed here on the roster in 2015. Markus Golden is looking like a potential third or even fourth-round pick. Should Atlanta take him and combine him with Massaquoi and Sheard as the starters and Stansly Maponga in rotation, they would have a solid edge group.
Golden is currently working with Chuck Smith—a former Atlanta Falcons master pass-rusher in his own right—on perfecting his hand usage and pass-rush techniques. Golden has the perfect size for a LEO role in Quinn's defense and could be an effective third-down rusher very early on.
But, for that to happen, Atlanta would have to pass on someone in the first round at defensive end and look more toward, say, an outside linebacker who can blitz from the edge and play the run effectively in a Bruce Irvin-style role...like Vic Beasley.
All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats (subscription required), ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac and Rotoworld.
Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He also runs DraftFalcons.com.
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