Is Brent Grimes Valuable or Expendable to the Atlanta Falcons?

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has already made multiple roster moves that have fared well with the faithful fans.

Ray Edwards was the number one target on the Falcons' free agent watch since the end of last season, and Dimitroff took no time making sure that Edwards would don the black and red in 2011.

The signings of offensive lineman Tyson Clabo and Justin Blalock, as well as linebackers Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson, keep this team's nucleus substantially close to what it was in 2010, when the Falcons won 13 games.

And no one at Falcons training camp has been unimpressed with rookie receiver Julio Jones, who is expected to bring a balance to the team's offensive attack that should make defenses more vulnerable to giving up big plays.

But one of the Falcons biggest "big play" guys from last season might not be on the roster this coming fall.

Cornerback Brent Grimes, who was once just an undrafted free agent from Shippensburg College in Pennsylvania, has bypassed the option to sign a first-round tender of $2.61 million to test free agency.

Evidently, Grimes is confident that another NFL front office will see him as a player worthy of a lucrative, long term contract.

Because Grimes is a restricted free agent, Atlanta can either match any contract offered by another club or deny to match and receive a first-round draft pick.

So, two questions come up here.

Will other teams really see Grimes as a valuable free agent? And, if teams do make an offer to Grimes, will Atlanta even bother matching the contract when they can receive a first-round pick?

Remember that Atlanta traded away their first-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the chance to draft Julio Jones.

Is Grimes more valuable than another first-round selection?

Brent Grimes made the Pro Bowl (albeit, as a replacement) in 2010. He recorded 76 tackles and five interceptions as a part-time starter last season. He was also arguably the most popular defensive player on the team.

Fans fell in love with Grimes because he was the epitome of that blue collar attitude that seemed to project across the entire team locker room.

He was also hands down the most clutch defensive performer last season, making interceptions and big plays at the most pivotal times in games.

Sure, he's 5'9", possibly 180 pounds soaking wet, but there is no doubt he played a huge part in at least two wins last season (both games versus playoff contender Tampa Bay come to mind).

Grimes could possibly be the most important player for Dimitroff to re-sign this offseason.

Just about every other big time cornerback on the market has been plucked up by another team. Falcons fans already (unnecessarily) entertained the idea of bringing in Nnamdi Asomugha, who has now signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles also received Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie from Arizona via the Kevin Kolb trade.

Now the Eagles have three big time cornerbacks, and are likely going to give some thought to shuffling Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel to another city.

Is that Atlanta's next big move?

Getting Samuel could be impossible without Atlanta giving up a big time player, so it seems very unlikely that would happen.

Carlos Rogers is the last worthy free agent cornerback left standing. Could he become a target in the coming weeks?

If Atlanta doesn't match an offer for Grimes, they will either need to find a shot in the dark way to trade for a corner like Samuel, quickly take a stab at Carlos Rogers or fall back on team members Dominique Franks (entering his second season) or Christopher Owens (entering his third season).

Owens, despite his physicality, has already been labeled the Achilles heel in the Falcons' defense. In last year's playoff battle with the Green Bay Packers, it was immediately obvious that Green Bay game planned to attack Owens, who had to start at nickel due to an injury to Brian Williams.

It appears that it's Grimes or bust for the Falcons in the short term. If Atlanta doesn't resign Grimes, they will enter 2011 with a weaker secondary than they had in 2010.

Ray Edwards' presence could very well mask inexperience in the secondary, but you've got to feel like a big play guy like Grimes could really, really flourish with that bolstered front seven in front of him.

But a first-round pick is on the line here as well.

What do you think? Would you take a chance with Franks or Owens, or match the Grimes offer sheet?

Grimes still is a hit or miss player, despite his big play ability, and in the long run could prove to be just as expendable as other cornerbacks, and maybe not worth the value of a capped first-round pick.