The Falcons are set to have around $70 million in cap space this offseason. There isn’t a single position group that doesn’t need top-end talent or depth. Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith are entering a critical juncture in their tenure with more cap space than ever. This continues a series of potential Falcons free agent targets, moving on to Rodger Saffold. Below are past editions:
- DL Javon Hargrave
- S Jessie Bates III
- DL Daron Payne
- LB David Long
- CB James Bradberry
- DL Dalvin Tomlinson
- EDGE Marcus Davenport
- CB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
- OL Isaac Seumalo
- CB Jamel Dean
- TE Dalton Schultz
- DL Dre’Mont Jones
- DE Arden Key
- DL Matt Ioannidis
- S Jordan Poyer
- WR Corey Davis
Falcons Free Agent Targets 2023: Rodger Saffold
The Falcons had a revolving door at left guard in 2022, with four players starting at the position, and there was minimal fluctuation in the effectiveness of the entire group. Elijah Wilkinson makes sense to bring back as a low-cost option, but Rodger Saffold would be an upgrade without much of a difference in price points
Spotrac’s projected contract is one year, $5.4 million, which would be a fine deal for a player with Saffold’s capabilities. Moreover, the fit is seamless. He has experience in Arthur Smith’s offense, as the pair worked together in Tennessee for two seasons in 2019 and 2020.
Despite the age, Saffold will be 35 years old by the start of the 2023 season, he is still playing at a high level, coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl campaigns — the first two of his career. Saffold started 16 games for the Bills this past season, so he’s still reliable, which the Falcons didn’t have at the position in 2022.
He signed a one-year deal with the contending Bills last offseason, so I would imagine the two sides would be open to another short-term deal, but if he wants to reunite with his former offensive coordinator in Atlanta, I would be all for it.
Maybe the Bills don’t see him as a shoo-in starter; Atlanta could likely give him the best situation to start. The left guard position doesn’t need to be one that the Falcons allocate a ton of resources to; Rodger Saffold would do just fine and be an upgrade over what Atlanta had in 2022.
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