The NFL news will be flowing left and right this week. The legal tampering period opens on Monday at Noon ET, while the new league year starts on Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST.
Before this gets started, the Atlanta Falcons made a surprising move to start the day. According to Zach Klein, the Falcons are releasing defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.
Stunner… Atlanta Falcons are releasing Grady Jarrett.
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) March 10, 2025
Grady’s agent Todd France (@toddfrance_ on IG) of @AthletesFirst tells me.
The 2-time Pro Bowler, team captain and Walter Payton man of the year nominee will be playing elsewhere in 2025 pic.twitter.com/IOhOUTAqbw
Falcons News: Grady Jarrett Was Released by Atlanta on Monday
Jarrett has been with Atlanta since being a fifth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. In 152 career games, the Clemson product has compiled 496 total tackles, 77 TFLs, 126 QB hits, and 36.5 sacks.
Jarrett has made two Pro Bowls during his time in Atlanta (2019 & 2020) and has also been a team captain since 2021, making him a pivotal voice in the locker room.
By moving on Jarrett, the Falcons save $16.25 million in cap space. Despite playing in all 17 games this past season, the 31-year-old didn't have a stellar season. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't elite in the same breath.
Per PFF, he had a 62.1 overall grade (71st among 219 eligible defensive tackles), a 60.6 pass-rush grade (98th among 219 eligible defensive tackles), and a 61.5 run-defense grade (54th among 219 eligible defensive tackles).
The Falcons need more juice and production along the defensive line. In 2024, they were 31st in the league in team sacks (31) and 15th in run defense (120.6).
Jarrett had a great career with the Falcons, but all things must come to an end. Per Overthecap.com, the Falcons now have $9.6 million in cap space. They still don't have enough money to make any meaningful additions, and this could be the first of multiple moves this offseason.
The Falcons have their work cut out for them to raise the floor of this team. And they believed Jarrett had to go to do so.