The Falcons should have made more free agent agreements.
The Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to the richest free agent deal of the NFL offseason, paying him $180 million over four years. It addressed Atlanta’s single most pressing roster need. The Falcons’ quarterback play lost more games than it won last season, costing Arthur Smith his job. The transition from Desmond Ridder to Kirk Cousins could be one of the most drastic changes at the position in recent memory. During the same permissible tampering period, the Falcons signed Darnell Mooney to a three-year contract, addressing the team’s second-most critical need.
The roster is taking shape, but there is still work to be done on the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons have the components in place to contend right now; nevertheless, adding Kirk Cousins communicated to the rest of the league that they are in win-now mode, regardless of whether you or I agree with that feeling. The reason I’m not as enthusiastic as some Falcons fans is due to the defence. It looks a lot like the defences Matt Ryan had to deal with, therefore I’ve compiled a list of free agents I wish the team had signed. Danielle Hunter (two years, $49 million)
The Falcons were allegedly interested in Hunter, but the Texans ultimately signed the LSU product. If there is one thing that all Falcons fans can agree on, it is that the pass rush requires improvement. Hunter may have single-handedly swung the needle for Atlanta. The four-time Pro Bowler is coming off a career-best 16.5 sack season and was always expected to cash in. Despite turning 30 in October, Hunter has recorded at least 10.5 sacks and/or 20 quarterback hits in four of his last five seasons. Falcons fans may respond, “Well, Alex, we don’t have any cap space.” That’s true to some extent, but Terry Fontenot could have restructured the team’s most expensive contracts to produce the cap room needed to sign.
“Well, we don’t want to end up like the Saints in cap hell!” The Falcons have an opportunity in Kirk Cousins. It is unwise not to maximise the roster during that window. Furthermore, the Saints are where they are because they have been kicking the can down the road for over 5 years, not just one offseason. Jonathan Greenard (four years, $76 million) The Vikings and Texans traded pass rushers, Hunter to Houston and Greenard to Minnesota, but I wish one of them had landed in Atlanta. Greenard is coming off a stellar year in which he recorded 12.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 52 tackles, two passes defended, and a forced fumble in 15 games.
Hunter is in the midst of his peak, whilst Greenard appears to be nearing it. Regardless of your pick, the Falcons would have been a far superior football club if they had signed either of them. Bryce Huff (3 years, $51.1 million) Surprise, surprise. Another pass-rusher! Well, let me ruin the last free agent signing I wish the Falcons made: another pass rusher. It’s the most urgent roster need right now.
Huff, like Greenard, is a young, rising pass rusher who could have anchored the Falcons’ defence for years. He will be 26 years old when the season begins and has just completed his greatest season yet. Huff recorded 10 sacks and 21 QB hits while playing only 42% of the Jets’ defensive snaps. The Falcons haven’t had that level of production in over a decade. Josh Uche (one-year, $3 million; maximum value of $8 million) Uche isn’t on the same level as the other three, but for this cheap, who can complain? Tom Pelissero did write following the revelation of the transaction that Uche rejected down more money to stay in New England, including one for $15 million over two years, with
Uche has had three or fewer sacks in three of his four seasons, but he recorded 11.5 sacks in 2022. However, he has never played a significant role in a defence. He’s only started three games for the Patriots and never played more than half of the snaps in a game last season. Still, at $15 million over two years, I’d have welcomed Uche to the Falcons. What free agent transactions do you wish the Falcons made?
