Ranking the Atlanta Falcons' Best Remaining Free-Agency Options
The Falcons currently have a ton of cap space remaining and need to fill some crucial holes in their roster. Despite bringing in a ton of talent to help out the front seven, Atlanta needs to bring in some starting-caliber guys to help improve depth along the roster, at a minimum.
Starting free safety, starting tight end and depth along the front seven still need to be addressed with competent players. The following are some suggestions for the Falcons in the second wave of free agency—as well as one guy the Falcons just won't sign.
NT B.J. Raji
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B.J. Raji sat out the 2014 season after taking the franchise tag due to an injury. He's a massive player who can compete for the starting job in the middle of the defense, but worst case scenario, he's a talented interior player who can help out on run downs as big 3-technique or rotating in to keep Paul Soliai fresh.
Raji has pass-rush potential on the interior as well, and playing in the 4-3 would be more beneficial for the former Packers' nose tackle and defensive end. Raji would have likely had a much bigger market if he had been healthy all season, but he wasn't and is now available in late free agency.
The Falcons should make a run and offer Raji a one-year prove-it deal with a similar structure to the one they gave Adrian Clayborn. That one-year deal would be beneficial to both sides, as it would be incentive-laden and wouldn't hit the cap but still allow Raji a place to improve his standing for 2016.
TE Rob Housler
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One spot the Falcons can really improve is at tight end. They honestly need a pair of tight ends to compete with Levine Toilolo for playing time, as Toilolo was just mediocre during the 2014 season. Rob Housler would be an ideal H-back for the Falcons in 2015 and beyond.
He's not a great blocker, but he's an ideal pass catcher for new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's scheme. He's able to move around the formation and create mismatches with the defense due to his size, speed and route running combination.
Housler would be an instant improvement over Toilolo as the starter too if he needed to play that spot. He's not a great blocker, but he shows willingness to block guys and can fit well within the zone scheme to be at least competent—albeit below average—as an in-line blocker.
DE George Selvie
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The Falcons need someone to compete for the starting Leo job in head coach Dan Quinn's new defense. Current candidates are Stansly Maponga and Cliff Matthews. However, neither is good enough to be relied upon as a starter early in the NFL.
So the Falcons should go after George Selvie. He was an excellent pass-rusher off the edge for the Cowboys over the past two seasons. He played primarily off the left side of the field taking on double-teams more often than getting left tackles one-on-one.
In the Falcons' new scheme, he'll likely be considered a Leo playing off the right side with an under tackle taking control of the B-gap next to him, and Paul Soliai playing either heads up over the center or in the weak-side A-gap. He should see more one-on-ones to win and could have a breakout year in the scheme.
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FS Dwight Lowery
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The Falcons didn't have many bright spots in the 2014 season. Going 6-10 was horrible for the Falcons, but they did find a competent free safety who would be a good leader for a young developing group in Dwight Lowery. Atlanta needs to bring him back as soon as possible.
The best way to get better as a team is to keep the talent you already have and then supplement it in free agency and the draft. By bringing in the best possible group of 90 men for training camp, the Falcons will have the best possible roster they can get.
They won't have that group if they don't bring back the resurgent Lowery. Lowery had a career year in 2014, racking up 79 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, one recovered fumble, two interceptions and five pass deflections. He also only allowed a passer rating of 80.1 on the 71 targets his way in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus.
TE Jermaine Gresham
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As stated earlier, the Falcons need someone who can come right in and compete with Levine Toilolo for playing time. If the Falcons somehow wound up with Jermaine Gresham, they'd have an instant starter with experience in a zone-based scheme.
He's already a good blocker, but he would truly benefit from playing in a scheme that featured a tight end in the passing game and gave him more looks than what he's been getting. He'd also benefit from better route combinations and a receiver like Julio Jones drawing coverage away.
Add in a better quarterback than what he's been dealing with in Cincinnati, and Gresham could be in line for a career year should he sign with the Falcons. Why the Falcons haven't been rumored to be interested in Gresham yet is confusing, but hopefully they end up in the race for him eventually.
Don't Even Ask: DE Greg Hardy
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Greg Hardy is one of the best young talents on the field at getting after quarterbacks. He's also a very solid run defender who is extremely versatile and can line up at linebacker, defensive end and defensive tackle. He'd be perfect for new head coach Dan Quinn's scheme as a Leo or strong-side defensive end.
As good as Hardy is on the field, the Falcons just won't take a chance on character since the whole Michael Vick incident back in 2007. In doing research on the subject, they haven't signed a single person with anything more than a DUI or summary violation prior to signing with the team.
Hardy could change the defense and give the Falcons a ridiculously talented player on the field. But if there are questions about him off the field due to a domestic assault charge that kept him off the field in the 2014 season that was eventually dismissed, the Falcons will not sign him.
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.
Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft.
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