Atlanta Falcons: 4 free agent linebackers to consider
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Falcons need to revamp their linebacking corps this offseason. Here are four free agent linebackers to consider signing for the 2016 Falcons.
The 2015 Atlanta Falcons came a long way in becoming a better defensive team. The secondary had the defense’s only Pro Bowler in shutdown cornerback Desmond Trufant. Trufant, cornerback Robert Alford, free safety Ricardo Allen, and strong safety Kemal Ishmael played cohesively down the stretch in the Atlanta defensive backfield.
Atlanta’s defensive line did a fine job stuffing the run with players like defensive tackle Paul Soliai, defensive end Tyson Jackson, and defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux. However, the pass rush again was nearly non-existent in the first year of head coach Dan Quinn’s 4-3 Under scheme. Atlanta will need to vastly upgrade that position group heading into 2016.
While the Atlanta Falcons largely overachieved defensively because of the coach-ability of its linebacking corps, that position group remains the Falcons’ weakest part of their team entering 2016. General manager Thomas Dimitroff already cut outside linebacker Justin Durant after one season.
Outside linebacker O’Brien Schofield is coming off surgery. Outside linebacker Brooks Reed‘s 2015 with the Atlanta Falcons was massively disappointing, as he never got healthy after preseason groin surgery. Middle linebacker Paul Worrilow and outside linebacker/defensive end Kroy Biermann are two of the many players entering free agency that were on the 2015 Atlanta Falcons.
With many linebacker spots up in the air for the 2016 Atlanta Falcons, here are four players that the Falcons could target to put in Jeff Ulbrich‘s position group and on Richard Smith‘s defense in 2016.
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