Thomas Dimitroff made a critical error in free agency last year. Instead of going after one proven commodity to fill the hole on the interior offensive line, he signed two below-average players, hoping the competition would turn one into a competent starter while the other served as quality depth. That plan failed miserably.
James Carpenter won the starting job at left guard and was pretty awful all season. However, the Falcons did use Jamon Brown once Chris Lindstrom was placed on the IR after Week 1, but he was equally as terrible in his ten appearances (nine starts).
Entering the 2020 offseason, the two were supposed to be primary participants in the battle for the starting left guard job again, along with rookie Matt Hennessy and former UDFA Matt Gono. That remains true for Carpenter, but after entering concussion protocol last week, the Falcons have decided to part ways with Brown after just one season.
Falcons announce they have released OL Jamon Brown, who just came back from concussion protocol
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) August 24, 2020
Brown’s dead cap hit is $6.58 million, $4.3 million of which is owed to him this year.
It’s unclear why the Falcons decided now was the right time to make this decision. Many believe Brown was better than Carpenter in 2019, and at the very least, he could serve as a depth piece. However, Thomas Dimitroff did continue to add to the offensive line this offseason in free agency and the draft.
Right now, it seems the Falcons are pleased with what they’ve seen from third-round pick Matt Hennessy, which could be why they felt this move made sense. Regardless, this is the end of the road for what was a terrible free-agent decision by Thomas Dimtrioff — one of the many reasons his job is on the line in 2020.
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