Atlanta Falcons Free-Agency Tracker: Updated Signings, Rumors and Grades
The Atlanta Falcons are opening up free agency with a whimper as they look to lose two of their key contributors on defense. However, there will be more news coming out throughout the week, and Atlanta needs to fill some now-massive holes on defense at free safety, linebacker and edge-rusher.
They also need to address needs at left guard, tight end and even running back on offense. Atlanta's only real unit that looks like it's in great shape is special teams. However, if the Falcons can make a couple of key signings, they will be a much better team in the future.
Falcons Losing Sean Weatherspoon to the Cardinals, And...
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Multiple reports have come out that Sean Weatherspoon is heading to the Arizona Cardinals. Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (h/t D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) reported that Weatherspoon signed a one-year deal with the potential to make up to $4 million should he stay healthy all season.
The Falcons should have been all over this deal. The Falcons should have given him a deal that was a $2 million base and potential to make up to $4.5 million just so that he wouldn't have left. Weatherspoon is a locker room leader that deserves to stick around in Atlanta.
And yet, the Falcons didn't feel the same way. By letting Weatherspoon head to Arizona, the Falcons have now added yet another hole to a defense that already needs a ton of work. Atlanta has talent on defense, but they don't have the leadership to replace Weatherspoon just yet.
Grade: F
...Corey Peters Is Heading There Too.
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In speaking with Corey Peters' agent Greg Linton over the past couple of days, the now-former Falcon had multiple contract offers in the $10-11 million range over a three-year deal making around $5-6 million guaranteed. However, the Falcons weren't offering anywhere close to that, but it came down to where the starting spot was, and his deal in Arizona can net more than that.
Peters wanted to play in a spot where he felt wanted, and Atlanta wasn't providing that anymore. The Falcons were going to have Peters play a rotational role. The Falcons have Tyson Jackson, Paul Soliai and Jonathan Babineaux signed to a combined $70 million in contracts and didn't want to add to it.
In Arizona, Peters is now likely going to start at either the role that Darnell Dockett used to play of 3-technique defensive end on running downs and 1-technique nose tackle on passing downs or a role where he's a 1-technique for over 60 percent of the snaps.
Atlanta should have at least attempted to re-sign Peters to a better deal. They could have cut the nonproductive Jackson in lieu of letting Peters have the starting role. However, they will now have to rely on Ra'Shede Hageman, Jackson and Babineaux to provide impact on the interior this year.
Grade: F
All information here was obtained firsthand.
Atlanta Re-Signed Three Key Special Teams Contributors
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Eric Weems, Nate Stupar and Charles Godfrey all re-signed with the Falcons just before free agency began. They all fit well with the special teams schemes that Keith Armstrong runs and have been successful with them in the past.
Weems is a slot receiver for his regular role with the team, and with the loss of Harry Douglas pre-free agency, he should see more snaps with the offense. He's an excellent blocker and isn't afraid to take on linebackers or defensive linemen one-on-one should he need to.
Nate Stupar and Charles Godfrey have minimal defensive value at their middle linebacker and free safety roles, respectively. Godfrey was cut from the Panthers in 2014, because he kept getting burnt a lot and his best role is as a gunner. Stupar is a potential captain on special teams and has value as a backup linebacker.
Grade: C
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Saints Trade Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks for Max Unger, 1st Round Pick
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Yes, this move isn't from the Falcons, but the Saints have traded away one of the Falcons biggest matchup issues over the past half-decade in Jimmy Graham according to NFL Insider Jay Glazer. Graham is heading to the Seahawks along with the Saints fourth-round pick for the Seahawks first-round pick and center Max Unger.
The Falcons benefit greatly from this move as it allows their defense to not have to worry about facing a 6'6" wide receiver/tight end combination who has given them fits for the past five seasons. Graham is arguably the best tight end in the league, and Atlanta not having to face him makes this trade even better.
Atlanta Signs Linebacker Brooks Reed...
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In the Falcons' new offset 4-3 defense, the strong-side linebacker plays a similar role to that of a 3-4 strong-outside linebacker. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Falcons have signed Brooks Reed to a five year, $22.0 million deal that would make him a Falcon through 2019.
Reed is an instant starter for the Falcons at strong-side linebacker, as he's excellent against the run and is a solid pass rusher. Reed is similar to Kroy Biermann in his playing style except for the fact that he can tackle effectively, play the run more effectively and uses his hands better at the point of attack.
He's also much stronger and quicker than Biermann was at the point of attack. It's an overall positive move for the Falcons. If the Falcons can end up getting better production from Reed than they were getting from either Osi Umenyiora or Kroy Biermann, the Falcons would be getting better value from Reed than the contract he signed.
Grade: B
...and Justin Durant
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Good coverage linebackers are hard to find, and Justin Durant will be an instant starter for the Falcons at weak-side linebacker. ESPN insider Adam Schefter confirmed that the Falcons will be adding Brooks Reed, but he also noted the Durant signing.
The biggest question from this signing is just how much money Durant will make and for how long. Nonetheless, after losing Sean Weatherspoon earlier in the week, getting a guy like Durant to start at the same spot that Weatherspoon would have played is a good, solid move.
Durant isn't ideally the long-term starter, as he's a 29-year old with eight years of experience. He's extremely quick and plays the run well, but he has issues with an injury history. The Falcons got a solid fit for their new defense and a veteran mentor that they lost when Weatherspoon left.
Grade: B
Falcons Also Re-Sign Quarterback T.J. Yates
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In what was likely a minimum salary signing, the Falcons re-signed T.J. Yates, according to the Journal Constitution's Ledbetter. Yates coming back to be the Falcons backup quarterback isn't a bad thing at all. He's proven to be a good backup for the Texans and Falcons in the past and should do much better now that he's back in a Shanahan-style scheme.
Grade: C
Atlanta Falcons Re-Sign RB Antone Smith
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Jay Adams of the official Atlanta Falcons Website mentioned the signing of Antone Smith as part of the team's announcement of four signings on Tuesday. Smith had an excellent year in 2014 gaining 366 yards on 36 touches and scoring five touchdowns before an injury derailed his season.
He's an ideal fit as a change of pace running back in the zone blocking scheme that Kyle Shanahan will be installing and is the lead gunner for the special teams units. But his biggest asset is his ability to make big plays. In 2014, he had five plays of 38 yards or more, and they all went for touchdowns.
Assuming that his contract wasn't out of proportions, the Falcons should easily reap the benefits of having a great special teams talent and solid change of pace running back on the team. His big play ability alone makes the signing worth every penny.
Grade: A+
...and Sign OG MIke Person
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Mike Person was the other signing that Jay Adams announced on the official Falcons website. As an offensive guard who played for the Rams the past four years, Person was used mostly on special teams and rarely saw the field.
He literally saw just 69 snaps on the field during his four years with the Rams. That's not enough to get an accurate read on what he can do as a pro. For now, this one gets a B as the financial details aren't even mentioned yet. However, should they be too much, this grade would plummet.
Grade: B
Falcons Add Leonard Hankerson to Their Already Solid WR Corps
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According to Leonard Hankerson's own twitter account, he has signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He posted this message on Wednesday suggesting that he has already signed with the Falcons after he visited on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hankerson instantly becomes the third or fourth best wide receiver on the roster depending on the role that gets carved out for Devin Hester. Hankerson wasn't productive in Washington last season, but he was in a different role than he had ever played.
After playing under Kyle Shanahan to start his career, Hankerson should enjoy being back under the same schemes with arguably one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL throwing him the ball. A wide receiver corps of Julio Jones, Roddy White, Hankerson and Hester should be very solid in 2015.
Grade: B
Falcons Sign Adrian Clayborn...
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As announced on the official Atlanta Falcons website, the Falcons have signed Adrian Clayborn. Clayborn is a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive end who missed the better part of a pair of seasons due to injuries to his ACL and his biceps muscle.
When he's not injured, Clayborn has been very good off the snap and one of the better ends in the NFL against the run. He's not a 10-sack player even in the Falcons' new scheme, but as a five-to-seven sack player, he's more than worth the money he signed.
Per Vaughn McClure of ESPN, the Falcons signed Clayborn to a one-year, $4.5 million deal. The "prove-it" deal for Clayborn is exactly the right kind of deal that he needed to sign. Atlanta could reap the benefits of a young, hungry pass rusher before signing him long term.
Grade: B
...and CB Phillip Adams
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Phillip Adams is a very solid nickel back who should instantly come in and compete for the role with Ricardo Allen and whoever else the Falcons bring in throughout the offseason. Dezmen Southward might also get a look for the role.
Adams played for the Jets in 2014 and has been in the league for a couple of years now. He's not likely to be a big-money signing but should be a good depth signing. If the Falcons can continue to bring in players of his caliber to compete for roles in 2015, they will be a better team.
Grade: B
Falcons Signed O'Brien Schofield
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Per Jay Adams of Atlanta Falcons.com, O'Brien Schofield signed with the Falcons. He'll likely play a situational pass rushing role for the Falcons in 2015. In 2014, he had three sacks, six quarterback hits and nine quarterback pressures on 191 pass rushing snaps per Pro Football Focus.
The rate of one quarterback disruption for every 10 snaps is one of the better rates in the NFL. Atlanta combining Schofield with the previous signing of Adrian Clayborn already improves their pass rush. He's not a great run defender, but as a nickel pass rushing linebacker, he's a fun player to watch.
Grade: A
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