Atlanta Falcons options other than resigning Austin Hooper

The Atlanta Falcons are already short on cash due to not money contacts by multiple players, is it even worth it to resign Austin Hooper?

The Atlanta Falcons have made it apparent that there are many spots that need addressing in order for this team to succeed. Would it be more beneficial in the long run to let Austin Hooper walk?

Yes, Austin Hooper is the best young tight end in the NFL.

Yes, Austin Hooper will cost a lot of money.

However, the Atlanta Falcons are already in the negative regarding cap space for next season. This automatically means the team most offload current assets.

55.17% of the salary cap for next season will be tied to six players (Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Jake Matthews, Grady Jarrett, Alex Mack, and Deion Jones). This number rises to 67.2% if the Atlanta Falcons choose to bring back both Devonta Freeman and Desmond Trufant.

Freeman and Trufant were shopped around shortly before the trade deadline but failed to gain real traction. If the Atlanta Falcons were to make any moves, it would only come from getting rid of those two players.

Freeing up both Freeman and Trufant would free up roughly $17m in cap space.

The Atlanta Falcons could bring back both Luke Stocker and Jaeden Graham (both account for less than 3% of next seasons cap) instead of Austin Hooper.

However, with how deep the wide receiver and tight end position is, focusing on resigning Austin Hooper is not the route to go.

The Atlanta Falcons desperately need a viable pass rush and an offensive line that isn’t as fickle as paper in water. Regarding the offensive line position, it cannot be addressed during the draft. The Falcons need a solid veteran offensive line instead of a rookie who may or may not be a bust.

Possible free agents in 2020

With young players such as Jaeden Graham, Christian Blake, and Russell Gage, their utilization going forward will be a huge selling point for letting Hooper go and to use that money elsewhere.

While the Falcons need offensive lineman, there are multiple areas that can be addressed and upgraded more significantly with free agency if the Atlanta Falcons forgo signing Austin Hooper.

Joe Thuney – guard/New England

Anyone coming off of the New England line is worth a look. Since 2016, Tom Brady has only been sacked 92 times. While that may seem like a lot, Matt Ryan has been sacked a total of 142 times and is on pace to have a career-high in sacks for a season.

Since 2013, Ryan has been sacked less than 30 times once and more than 35 times four times. The Falcons truly need to splash the cash for Thuney and not Austin Hooper.

Chris Jones – defensive line/Kansas City

Vic Beasley has failed to gain more than five sacks since 2016. he also only accounted for four sacks in 2015. Outside of Jones’s rookie season in 2016, he has failed to account for less than six sacks and is only three sacks short of surpassing Beasley on career sacks in fewer years.

Beasley has also only forced one fumble since 2016. Jones has forced seven within the same time frame.

Cody Whitehair – guard/Chicago

While Whitehair has played center majority of his career, his versatility to alternate between guard and center effectively is a rarity in the league. With Matt Ryan being hit a league-leading 100 times, this side of the line needs to be addressed since the Falcons addressed the right side of the line last season.

Penalties are important to avoid and both James Carpenter and Jamon Brown both have seven holding penalties combined. Whitehair has only one all season.

Myles Jack – linebacker/Jacksonville

While Jack doesn’t have all-around great stats to jump out and throw your money at him, he does present an option to hopefully get a young, “cheap” linebacker who would be third on the Atlanta Falcons this season on solo tackles at 42.

Jack would be an all-around good defender for Atlanta and maybe just needs a change of scenery from Jacksonville to jump-start his career.

Brandon Scherff – guard/Washington

While Scherff is primarily a right guard, however, the Atlanta Falcons could try to switch him or maybe have Chris Lindstrom move to the left side next season and make way for McGary to work a lot side a proven veteran.

It is unlikely that Scherff will be available as the Redskins may franchise tag him for 2020.

Vonn Bell – safety/New Orleans

Now, if the Atlanta Falcons really want to be ambitious, they could try and pick off one of the Saints’ top defenders. With Neal missing another season due to injury, you have to question his ability to stay healthy. The Falcons can’t be left with their hands tied once Neal gets injured again.

Bell, 24 years old, is due for a big contract and the Atlanta Falcons should really consider if he can be a guy who can change their horrible defense. Add Neal to the list of guys the Falcons can offload, and they would very much have room for Bell.