With the Falcons only having five picks in this year’s NFL Draft, one would think they would be very aggressive in the free agency market and sign a few big name players, right?
That has not been the case so far since free agency started on Tuesday, as the Falcons have been relatively quiet. However, they did sign Lofa Tatupu to a two-year deal and they also signed Vince Manuwai to a deal which the terms were undisclosed.
Tatupu was a three-time Pro Bowl linebacker with the Seattle Seahawks, but sat out the entire 2011 season because he and the Seahawks could not agree to a new deal. Manuwai is a veteran offensive guard who played with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003 to 2010. Manuwai did not play last season because he suffered an ankle injury during the lockout and was cut by the Jags. He did not catch on with any other team.
Those are the only two new names the Falcons have signed. The other players the Falcons have signed are current Falcons that have gotten new contracts. Kroy Bierrman, Harry Douglass, Thomas DeCoud, Jason Snelling and Chris Redman have signed new deals and the Falcons have also offered a franchise tender to Brent Grimes. The AJC has also reported that the Falcons have re-worked Dunta Robinson’s contract so they could have more cap room.
But the Falcons received good news on Friday when John Abraham agreed to sign a three-year deal. Abraham, who has been with the Falcons since 2006, has been one of the league’s most prolific pass rushers. He is ranked 16th in the league with 112 sacks and he is one of only 25 players to tally over 100 sacks in the 93-year history of the NFL.
While some of the Falcons free agents will be back next season, there are a few that have moved on or looking for a new home.
Curtis Lofton is the big name for the Falcons that is drawing interest from numerous teams. The Oklahoma alum has an offer from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is expected to visit the New Orleans Saints very soon. If Lofton leaves, the Falcons will have Akeem Dent and Tatupu as their two middle linebackers. As of now, Dent will get the start over Tatupu due to the fact Tatupu has not played a down since 2010.
Longtime Falcon Todd McClure is being wined and dined by the St. Louis Rams. Les Snead, the Rams general manager and former Falcons executive, is leading the charge for McClure and if he goes, Joe Hawley will be the projected starter at center for the Falcons this season.
One former Falcon that has officially signed with a new team is Eric Weems. The return specialist has signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears and will be reunited with Bears general manager Phil Emery who was the former Falcons director of college scouting.
NFL.com has said the Falcons are the team that is dropping the ball during the early stages of free agency. But with the Falcons having little cap room to work with, they have to be smart about who they bring in and who they let go. They have resigned key players from last year including Abraham which is huge for the Falcons moving forward.
This is only the early stages of free agency, so the Falcons have plenty of time to make more moves and solidify their roster for the upcoming season. But in order to take that next step which is being a Super Bowl contender, the Falcons may have to turn it up a notch sooner than later.
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