The Atlanta Falcons didn't make too many moves in free agency, as they didn't have a ton of money to spend.
The Falcons secured a couple of signings though, including inking LB Divine Deablo to a two-year, $14 million deal that included $7.6 million guaranteed.
Atlanta needed someone to step into that LB spot, as Nate Landman left to join the Los Angeles Rams, and Tory Anderson has dealt with a lot of injuries. That being said, the Deablo signing is already looking like a home run.
Divine Deablo Already Looks Like Value Signing for the Falcons
During OTAs, Deablo already got some love from Raheem Morris, who said, "His athleticism stands out. It's been unique. His length stands out, which has been unique. And really him keying and diagnosing behind the ball probably a lot better than we thought, and I'm really fired up to see that."
Although Kaden Elliss is plugged in at one starting linebacker spot, Deablo will jump into another linebacker spot on this defense, providing some much-needed speed and athleticism to the second level. There's even been talks of Deablo possibly wearing the green dot for Atlanta's defense, which shows the team's immediate trust in the new arrival.
An underrated aspect that should have fans excited is that Jeff Ulbrich is their defensive coordinator, and he helped develop Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood during his time with the New York Jets. Both guys had campaigns where they recorded 100-plus total tackles and consistently found their way to the ball to make plays.
In 54 career games (42 starts) with the Las Vegas Raiders, he compiled 288 total tackles, 10 TFLs, six QB hits, six pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries.
The Virginia Tech product left a lot to be desired on the field throughout his four years in Las Vegas, but he has the traits to be a valuable weapon for Atlanta. Deablo can use his skillset to be a good defender in coverage against tight ends and running backs, and has good eyes to fill in the hole in the run game.
Being in a defensive scheme that will maximize his strengths sounds like a recipe for success. In three of his four campaigns, Deablo has played in at least 14 games, and the Falcons are hoping that level of health continues.
Atlanta made sure to add more athleticism to the defensive side of the ball, and the 26-year-old fits that to a tee.