The Falcons have a lot to do this offseason. There are decisions to be made on Kirk Cousins’ future in Atlanta, re-signing Drew Dalman, possibly trading Kyle Pitts, and that doesn’t even include the draft or free agency.
With the 15th overall pick, Terry Fontenot has to find a Day 1 starter that can hopefully provide an impact on the defensive side of the ball. Free agency-wise, the team doesn’t have a lot of resources right now, but Fontenot can create cap space by releasing players and restructuring other contracts.
The Falcons need to use all of their resources in both free agency and the draft to improve the roster enough to end the postseason drought; one of those areas has been much more fruitful for Fontenot. The former pro personnel man for the Saints has had more success in free agency than the draft, and he’ll need to do it again this offseason.
Past connections could motivate Atlanta. Whether it’s in Los Angeles, from Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson’s time with the Rams; New Orleans, from Fontenot’s time with the Saints; or New York, from Jeff Ulbrich’s time with the Jets.
Matt Bowen of ESPN believes Ulbrich’s connections set up the perfect free agent signing, a defensive playmaker in Jamien Sherwood.
“Sherwood could follow new Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich from New York to Atlanta. A three-down linebacker who is trending up at this stage of his career, Sherwood posted 154 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three pass breakups with the Jets last season. He can play downhill with speed, cutting off the ball and pursuing the edges. The Falcons need playmakers on defense.”
This is a connection that has been pointed out several times, but I’m failing to see the sense of it all.
The Falcons have invested heavily into the off-ball linebacker position. They gave Kaden Elliss a three-year deal in free agency, as the former Saints linebacker enters the final year of that contract. They also spent a second-round pick on Troy Andersen, who has flashed at times but struggled to remain healthy.
Are the Falcons really going to continue to throw resources at a non-premium position like linebacker? Especially considering their needs at edge and cornerback, two premium positions.
Could a dynamic player like Sherwood free up Elliss to rush the passer? Of course, but unless the Falcons are playing three linebackers in base packages, Andersen will be relegated to a smaller role, effectively wasting a second-round pick.
I just feel there are better ways to allocate what few resources the Falcons have than spending them on an off-ball linebacker.
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Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
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