NFC South: 2018 Offseason Update
By Colton Spaur
Atlanta Falcons
Acquisitions
- OG Brandon Fusco
- TE Logan Paulsen
- CB Justin Bethel
Losses
- WR Taylor Gabriel
- TE Levine Toilolo
- DE Adrian Clayborn
- DT Dontari Poe
Re-signed
- K Matt Bryant
- OT Austin Pasztor
- LB/S Kemal Ishmael
- DB Leon McFadden
- DB Blidi Wreh-Wilson
Unsigned
- FB Derrick Coleman
- DT Ahtyba Rubin
- DE Courtney Upshaw
- LB Sean Weatherspoon
Finally, we get to our Atlanta Falcons. Thomas Dimitroff and company have been relatively quiet in free agency, as the biggest move has been the signing of RG Brandon Fusco. Coming from San Francisco, Fusco should step into the starting position and will be an immediate improvement over Wes Schweitzer and Ben Garland.
Atlanta will be without speedster Taylor Gabriel, as he signed with the Chicago Bears. Gabriel could not find his role within Steve Sarkisian’s offense as he had with Kyle Shanahan.
His replacement could come from the draft, or Justin Hardy could jump into the number three slot on the depth chart.
The Falcons released tight end Levine Toilolo and signed veteran Logan Paulsen. Paulsen has served mostly as a blocking tight end during his NFL career and should serve nicely as Toilolo’s replacement.
Fullback Derrick Coleman remains unsigned, as the Falcons will have to address that position. If Coleman isn’t re-signed, Atlanta should target a fullback in the later rounds of the draft.
Entering the draft, it is clear that defensive line needs to be addressed. Atlanta lost Adrian Clayborn and Dontari Poe in free agency, plus Courtney Upshaw and Ahtyba remain unsigned.
There seems to be enough depth at defensive end with Beasley, Reed, McKinley and Shelby. However, there is a need at defensive tackle. Atlanta needs to add another tackle to go along with Grady Jarrett, which will probably be addressed with Atlanta’s first round pick.
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Atlanta doesn’t have any glaring holes on the roster, which justifies the quiet offseason. Expect defensive line and wide receiver to be addressed early in the draft, while there are a lot of possibilities for Atlanta’s middle and late picks.