It is Super Bowl week in the NFL, but 30 other teams are already focusing on the 2024 season, and the Falcons are no different.
After introducing Raheem Morris as the new head coach, Terry Fontenot and the rest of Atlanta’s staff will begin to assess the roster, their impending free agents, contract extension candidates, and Kyle Pitts‘ fifth-year option.
Before the draft, the Falcons will be active in free agency, recruiting new faces as well as old ones. Calais Campbell headlines the group of those to potentially return, but Bud Dupree, Scotty Miller, and others should be considered too.
Following internal free agents, the Falcons will then look externally, and there are several potential targets playing this Sunday in the Super Bowl.
Mike Edwards
If the Falcons would like to get a more reliable third safety, Edwards could interest the new regime. He recorded 51 tackles, five passes defensed, and an interception in 17 games for the Chiefs. Edwards didn’t allow a touchdown and had a 48.5 passer rating in coverage.
Javon Kinlaw
The former first-round pick hasn’t panned out as many had hoped but did start six games for the Niners, recording 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks, with a career-high six quarterback hits. However, he lost his starting job to Javon Hargrave. Kinlaw could prove to be a valuable complementary piece to Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata.
Chase Young
Much like Kinlaw, Young hasn’t lived up to his lofty draft status but did have 66 pressures and 7.5 sacks in 16 games between the Commanders and 49ers. Young could prove to be a wise investment, depending on the price. He isn’t in the same tier as Brian Burns, Josh Allen, and Danielle Hunter, but that should make him much cheaper.
Michael Danna
Falcons fans, and many others, might not know who Danna is, but he’s been instrumental in the success of the Chiefs defense this year, finishing with a career-high 41 pressures, 50 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, and 6.5 sacks. At 26 years old in a contract year, his career year couldn’t have come at a better time.
L’Jarius Sneed
Sneed has been one of the best cornerbacks in football this season. Opposing quarterbacks have just a 45.2 passer rating when targeting him. Sneed didn’t allow a touchdown during the regular season while notching a pair of interceptions. He’s going to garner a handsome contract, so the Falcons better be ready to pony up if they target Sneed.
Chris Jones
Jones is by far the best player in the Super Bowl who could hit free agency. The perennial All-Pro is neck and neck with Aaron Donald as the best interior defender in football. He finished with 75 pressures and 10.5 sacks, one season after having 77 pressures and 15.5 sacks. Jones has finished with 29 quarterback hits in each of the last two seasons. If the Falcons wanted to form the most menacing interior of all time, adding Jones to Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata would give Atlanta’s defense quite possibly the best defensive line in recent memory.
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Photographer: Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire
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