The upcoming offseason is critical to the future of the Falcons franchise.
On offense, decisions have to be made across the offensive line, the one unit that has really been rock-steady in Atlanta over the last half-decade. Drew Dalman is set to hit free agency and will be highly sought after across the league. At right tackle, the Falcons will have to decide on Kaleb McGary’s future in Atlanta. He’s set to enter the final year of his contract, and with Michael Penix Jr. under center, the position is now the most important across the offensive line. While on the other side, the Falcons also have to be pondering life after Jake Matthews, who just finished his 11th season in the league.
However, the offensive concerns still pale in comparison to the defense. The Falcons are lacking talent at all three levels. The pass rush must be the focal point, as Atlanta finished near the bottom of the league in both sacks and pressures. But the Falcons also need to add a starting cornerback and safety, while another proven linebacker could also be viewed as a priority.
Among the free agent linebackers available, Jamien Sherwood is one that’s gaining some early hype because of his connections to Jeff Ulbrich from his time with the New York Jets, which Jeremy Fowler recently noted for ESPN.Â
“Three different personnel evaluators brought up Sherwood to me unprompted when discussing the free agency class. Watch for Atlanta, which features a lot of former Jets staffing, or San Francisco, where former Jets coach Robert Saleh now runs the defense.”
Sherwood is coming off a breakout campaign in his first year as a starter, recording 158 tackles, ten of which went for loss, with two sacks. He’s a true three-down linebacker who just seems to be tapping into his full potential as he hits free agency.
That’s something the Falcons should be looking for, especially with Ulbrich stressing the importance of multiplicity in his defense. However, with so many needs, spending top-dollar on a linebacker might end up being pushed to the back burner, given the Falcons’ limited funds.
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Photo: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
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