The Atlanta Falcons are in the midst of a crucial offseason. They have key pending free agents, no cap space, and plenty of holes to fill. They also have a massive Kirk Cousins problem they need to solve immediately.
Before they can be aggressive in free agency or the trade market, the Falcons need to shed salary. This requires tough decisions on players like Justin Simmons, Mike Hughes, Matthew Judon, and Dee Alford.
One player the team can't afford to let walk under any circumstances is offensive lineman Drew Dalman. The former fourth-round pick has blossomed into one of the best centers in the league. In fact, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the fourth-best player at his position, with a 78.8 offensive grade.
Drew Dalman Projected to Leave Falcons in Free Agency
However, Dalman will also have plenty of suitors in free agency. ESPN's Matt Bowen identified Dalman as the 26th-best free agent on the market and had the Chicago Bears as the best fit for the 26-year-old.
"Dalman wins his assignments with movement and leverage to offset a smaller frame (6-3, 300 pounds). He's a technician on the tape, best suited for the zone run game, and his pass block win rate of 95.1% ranked ninth among centers with at least 500 snaps."Matt Bowen, ESPN
Dalman missed 11 games over the last two seasons but deserves to be paid like one of the best centers in the league. He will likely get an annual average salary of over $10 million in a multi-year deal.
The Chicago Bears, with a desperate need for offensive line help, are an obvious fit. They are trying to take the next step with Caleb Williams under center, and after he took hit after hit in his rookie season, the Bears are understandably trying to fortify his protection.
On the other hand, Dalman has previously highlighted his desire to re-sign with the Falcons. One of the ways Atlanta can do that is by limiting Dalman's next contract's financial impact in 2025. They can backload the contract for 2026 and beyond when the Falcons should be in a better cap situation.
The Falcons simply can't afford to lose quality players with their primes ahead of them. While their cap situation certainly complicates matters, keeping Dalman around should be near the top of the list of priorities.