While the Atlanta Falcons made sweeping changes to the roster in the offseason, they have yet to solve their biggest weakness. The pass rush was a huge area of improvement for the Falcons heading into free agency, and despite the addition of veteran defensive end Leonard Floyd, it remains a significant flaw.
In 2024, the Falcons were one of the worst pass-rushing teams in the league, ranking second-to-last in sacks with 31. To kick off free agency, Atlanta lost Lorenzo Carter and Kentavius Street, while Matt Judon remains unsigned.
Floyd will be a solid piece on the edge. Arnold Ebiketie took a nice step forward last season. The third-round pick from last year, Bralen Trice, should provide a nice boost to the rotation. Despite all this, however, the Falcons lack elite depth and talent in the position.
Za'Darius Smith is the Perfect Falcons Target Among Available Free Agents
That is why they have to turn to the free agent market once again. If they are not going to retain Judon, they must pursue another veteran pass-rusher.
The best available free agent on the market is Za'Darius Smith. The 32-year-old pass rusher was traded to the Lions from the Browns at the deadline. In Detroit, he had four sacks, 10 QB hits, and three tackles for loss in only eight games. PFF gave him a 71.2 defensive grade for that stint. Despite the solid performance, however, the Lions released the three-time Pro Bowler.
As we head to the fourth week of free agency, the Falcons will be hard-pressed to find a better option than Smith for their most important position of need. They will obviously consider selecting an edge rusher with their No. 15 overall pick in the draft, but signing Smith doesn't necessarily preclude them from doing so. You can never have too many pass rushers in the league and GM Terry Fontenot has to act accordingly.