Key Falcon Won't Return After Missing Playoffs This Season

After a frustrating 2024 season in which veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins was benched for rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. and the Atlanta Falcons lost their last two games, the team heads into the offseason with many questions.

The Falcons were in control of their playoff destiny late in the regular season but lost to the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers. Many fans thought this was the year Atlanta would win the division and make the playoffs with Cousins.

However, the veteran quarterback looked like a shell of himself and could be out the door with Penix showing promise late in the year. In addition to Cousins’ future, the Falcons must decide how many of their 22 unrestricted free agents they will re-sign.

According to Spotrac.com, the Falcons are estimated to be $10.3 million over the salary cap. Atlanta must make tough moves to get under the cap and re-sign their top free agents.

One of the key free agents that Atlanta might not be able to re-sign is center Drew Dalman. The 26-year-old is scheduled to hit the open market for the first time after being taken in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Dalman has been Atlanta’s starting center since his second year in the league in 2022. He missed some time this season because of an ankle injury, forcing him to go on injured reserve.

However, when he returned to action, the veteran offensive lineman did not skip a beat, allowing 13 pressures and two sacks in 554 offensive snaps (nine games). He also had an overall grade of 78.8 on PFF (ranked fourth among 64 centers) and a stellar 79.8 run-blocking grade (fifth).

Nonetheless, Atlanta would love to keep Dalman as they build that consistency on the offensive line.

But when speaking to reporters the day after the regular season ended last month, Dalman didn’t want to go into much detail about his playing future.

"I'm not really going to discuss that kind of stuff. It's pretty personal, and it's team related, he said (via the Atlanta Falcons website). At the same time, Dalman had nothing but great things to say about his overall experience in Atlanta."

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Dalman could receive “top-three money among centers” in free agency.

"As the main guy at the position in a soft market, Dalman has a chance to receive top-three money among centers, surpassing Lloyd Cushenberry III's four-year, $50 million deal with the Titans in 2024. Chicago needs to address its interior offensive line, and New England also could be among teams looking for center help."

Based on Fowler’s reporting, if Dalman gets more than what Cushenberry received from the Titans, the Falcons must have a backup plan ready for the center position, whether in free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft.

More Atlanta Falcons News and Rumors: