After a slow start to free agency yesterday, the Falcons have made two significant signings within an hour of each other to bolster the defense. Cornerback Mike Hughes is back on a three-year deal, and former Georgia Bulldogs defender Leonard Floyd returns close to home to strengthen Atlanta’s pass rush, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.
Floyd, who will be 33-years-old next season, is coming off a campaign in which he recorded 8.5 sacks, a number that he’s reached in each of the last five seasons. Three of which he spent with the Los Angeles Rams under Raheem Morris.
Leonard Floyd instantly becomes the Falcons’ best pass rusher on the roster, but he alone is not nearly enough to fix what’s been the single most glaring problem in Atlanta for over a decade. He’s more of a supplementary piece at this point in his career, and if the Falcons don’t do a better job of finding more talent in the trenches, Floyd will be the latest pass rusher to severely underachieve in Atlanta.
The hope is that something much bigger could be coming down the pike in the near future. Trey Hendrickson is still available. That’s a guy who, paired with Floyd, could have the Falcons defensive front looking entirely different heading into next season.
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Photo: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
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