The Falcons entered the offseason with a lot of holes to fill, and they’ve only got more after the early wave of transactions. To start today, it was announced that the Falcons are releasing two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. The defensive line was already a concern, and now it’s in far worse shape with Jarrett moving to a new team for the first time in his career.
On top of that, the Falcons now have a gaping hole smack dab in the middle of their offensive line, with Drew Dalman officially inking a three-year, $42 million contract to join the Chicago Bears.
Dalman was the Falcons’ biggest impending free agent. A fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he blossomed into one of the top centers in the league and will now be paid like it. There were reports prior to free agency that Dalman could reset the market for centers, potentially in line for a deal that would pay him $18-20 million per season. That didn’t happen, but $14 million per year still proved too rich for the Falcons’ liking.
Atlanta’s offensive line has been by far the biggest area of strength for the team over the last half-decade. They’ve used the same five starters in each of the last two seasons. Dalman did miss about half the season last year, and in his place, Ryan Neuzil performed admirably. Perhaps it was enough for the Falcon to feel comfortable with him as the starter, but at the very least, depth needs to be added at the position.
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Photographer: John Byrum/Icon Sportswire
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