Atlanta Falcons: 4 free agent linebackers to consider

Last offseason, Seattle Seahawks veteran outside linebacker Bruce Irvin said at an Atlanta Hawks game that he would absolutely leave the Pacific Northwest to sign with his hometown Atlanta Falcons when he became a free agent in spring of 2016.

Irvin played his high school ball at football powerhouse Stephenson in Stockbridge before playing collegiately for the West Virginia Mountaineers. Irvin played for Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn when he was the defensive coordinator for the Seahawks in 2013-14.

Quinn coached Irvin in his first three seasons in the NFL (2012-14) and knows that he is already a great scheme fit in his ideal 4-3 Under Base defense. Bruce Irvin has started 37 games the last three seasons in Seattle since joining the club as the No. 15 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

He can get after the quarterback as an outside pass rusher with 22.0 career sacks in Seattle. Irvin could have a better first season in Atlanta than did his former teammate O’Brien Schofield did last season when he came to the Atlanta Falcons with Dan Quinn.

Irvin won’t turn 29 until November, is an Atlanta native, is a great scheme fit, and has a great working relationship with Dan Quinn. It seems like nearly a sure thing that Bruce Irvin will join the 2016 Atlanta Falcons in this spring’s free agency period.

Next: Nick Perry