Guideline To The Atlanta Falcons’ Dream Offseason
By Jake Bennett
Dec 1, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darius Johnson (13) runs after a catch as Buffalo Bills free safety Jairus Byrd (31) defends during the second half at the Rogers Center. Falcons beat the Bills 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Free Agency
Cap room before Free Agency: $26.5 Million
FS Jairus Byrd
Byrd will be the center of many organizations’ free agency plans, but with a release of Thomas DeCoud, Free Safety instantly becomes an area of concern. Signing Jairus Byrd would immediately improve the Free Safety position, and give Atlanta one of the most feared secondaries in the league for years to come. Having Byrd will definitely be expensive, but it will pay dividends for the team that has many holes to fill, and little time to fill them.
DE Michael Bennett
With 8.5 sacks this season, Bennett showed that his breakout season with Tampa Bay wasn’t a fluke. At 28 years old, signing him would bring youth to a position that desperately needs it. Atlanta may miss out on Jadeveon Clowney in the draft, so Bennett would be a safety blanket.
DT Vance Walker
Letting go of both Babineaux and Jerry will call for a new Defensive Tackle to suit up for the Falcons in 2014. However, that “new” DT will be a familiar face. Free Agent Swagger Vance had a solid year as a rotational piece with 3 sacks this year, and will bring that production back to Atlanta where he’ll be a part of a season of redemption.
Assuming Byrd, Bennett, and Walker will command 8, 5, and 2 million yearly, this subtracts Atlanta’s cap space by nearly $15 million.
Cap room after Free Agency: $9 Million