The Atlanta Falcons emphasized upgrading their defensive line this offseason after posting a disappointing 31 sacks (second-worst in the NFL last season). The only other team with fewer sacks than the Falcons was the New England Patriots, who also addressed their front seven in the offseason.
The Falcons signed veterans Leonard Floyd (one-year, $10M deal) and Morgan Fox (two-year, $5.5M contract) in free agency. Then, in the 2025 NFL draft, Atlanta took rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the first round.
Atlanta hopes that those four new players will help turn their defensive unit around in 2025 and bring new energy to the pass rush. At the same time, the Falcons cannot put all their eggs into those guys' baskets, especially with two of them being rookies.
They need to add another veteran defensive end who can not only get pressure but also has starting experience. Luckily for Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, the perfect option is still available, and he has ties to new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
Falcons Should Sign Veteran DE Carl Lawson to Bolster Pass Rush
Veteran defensive end Carl Lawson is still unsigned despite having a solid 2024 campaign with the Dallas Cowboys. Lawson was signed by the Cowboys last August as they lacked depth due to injury.
The 30-year-old defensive lineman didn’t make the 53-man roster out of preseason, but Dallas quickly signed him to the practice squad. It was a smart move by the Cowboys, as Lawson had 19 quarterback pressures, 15 quarterback hits, five sacks, and four tackles in 15 games.
According to Pro Football Focus, Lawson wasn’t the best against the run (58.8 – 116th among 211 qualified EDGEs), but he had a 64.8 pass rush grade (81st). The veteran’s pass rush grade was better than Matthew Judon’s, who had a 53.9 grade last season in Atlanta.
As we previously mentioned, Lawson also has a connection to Ulbrich as they were both in New York. The veteran defensive end spent three seasons with the Jets, but he missed the first year because of a torn Achilles in 2021.
However, Lawson came back with a vengeance and had one of his best years as a pro. In 2022, he went off for 26 quarterback pressures, 24 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, and seven sacks (second-most in his career).
Not only was he getting into the backfield, but Lawson was getting after the quarterback. If the Falcons need someone who knows Ulbrich’s scheme and what to expect, Lawson is the perfect low-risk, high-reward signing for the 2025 season.