Atlanta Falcons: Free Agency Preview

Open free-agency is about to begin and the Atlanta Falcons have plenty of moves to make as we head into the first week of free agency.

The Atlanta Falcons have started their free agency period by allowing most all of their eligible players to hit the open market begging the question what do they expect to do with their open cap space?

Taylor Gabriel was one of the few exceptions to the mass exodus that the Falcons are going to allow bringing back the speedy receiver to compliment Julio Jones as a change of pace receiver who can blow the top off. Bringing Gabriel back was the right move and one that will allow the Falcons to sit back and not be pushed to add another offensive weapon.

Headed into open free agency the Falcons look to be in a good position but still have a to do list they will want to address before they shift their focus and fill their final roster holes with draft picks.

The biggest area that the Falcons need to focus on in free agency is finding more pass rushers who can help compliment Vic Beasley. As much of a help and bargain as Dwight Freeney was it is hard to see the Falcons spending to bring him back with a lot of other electric and younger pass rushing options on the market.  The Falcons are likely to opt to add several pass rushers and hope to draft a future star in the draft as opposed to signing a veteran long term.

Eric Weems has been a fixture in Atlanta for quite some time but all good things have to come to an end and it is time to replace the back-up wide out and kick returner.  Ted Ginn Jr. is an interesting name on the market that the Falcons should look at as he would fit perfectly into their scheme replacing Weems and Alderick Robinson.

Letting Chris Chester likely go into free agency has been the most surprising move the Falcons have made so far. Chester was part of one of the better lines in the league it is hard to see the Falcons letting him go unless they expect to spend cap space and upgrade their offensive line.

Next: Braves Off-season Targets

There seem to be no other areas of concern headed into this off-season though that shouldn’t be surprising considering the young talent on the roster coming off of a Super Bowl appearance. The Falcons still will have their work cut out for them however if they hope to repeat their success in the years to come.