The NFL offseason is chugging along as Week 4 of free agency is officially underway. Although the Atlanta Falcons have added several new names to the mix throughout the first three weeks, they've also lost a handful of familiar faces to the open market, including the likes of defensive lineman Grady Jarrett and center Drew Dalman.
Some departing ex-Falcons will find success with their new employers, while others won't be as fortunate. With that in mind, one former Atlanta defensive back is more at risk of fumbling his fresh start compared to his other departing ex-teammates.
Former Falcons DB Richie Grant Will Fail With 49ers
Veteran safety Richie Grant is one of the handful of Falcons who've left Atlanta this offseason. The former 2021 second-round pick didn't waste any time finding a new home once the market opened, having signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers on March 13.
After a quiet rookie season, Grant didn't take long to become a consistent piece of Atlanta's defense. The former Falcon made 32 starts across 34 appearances between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, resulting in 136 solo tackles, 13 broken-up passes, three forced fumbles, three interceptions, and a trio of sacks.
Unfortunately, Grant's performance declined as time continued, culminating in a forgettable 2024 campaign. He only made one start in 17 appearances after losing his starting job to offseason addition Justin Simmons, leading to the former UCF product playing 349 snaps on special teams compared to only 162 on defense.
The diminished playing opportunities saw Grant finish with a career-low 13 solo tackles, as well as an abysmal 37.7 Pro Football Focus defense grade — the fifth-worst grade among 171 safeties last season.
It's hard to imagine Grant improving on those numbers now that he's with the 49ers. The Fort Walton Beach, FL native will turn 28 years old shortly after the 2025 season begins, meaning he's at the age where serious improvements are unlikely. There's also a good chance he'll be stuck on special teams again, with Malik Mustapha and Ji'Ayir Brown ahead of him on the depth chart.
It won't be long before Atlanta fans get the opportunity to see Grant fail with his new team up close. It's already confirmed that the Falcons will be traveling to face the 49ers at Levi's Stadium sometime during the 2025 season, and an official date will likely be revealed within the next two months.
Unless Grant completely turns back the clock by looking like his second-year form, the 49ers will likely be disappointed with his upcoming performance — something that Falcons fans are more than familiar with.