5 Free agents the Atlanta Falcons must avoid this off-season
By Nick Halden
The Atlanta Falcons will have very little cap space available to take a swing in free agency. The team is likely facing two choices either sign a big name and make a splash or opt to add several veteran pieces and use the draft to make their biggest off-season addition.
There are arguments to be made for both approaches when you look at the team Atlanta has built. They have a very young and rebuilding roster based around veteran quarterback Matt Ryan. Adding pieces in the draft and making veteran signings is certainly the safer route in a wide-open division.
Even marginal improvement should allow Atlanta the opportunity to contend in the division. However, considering where Atlanta is they will likely need to opt to sign veterans and not make the splashy move.
The Atlanta Falcons must avoid any cap mistakes as they try to dig themselves out of the cap hole they are in
The cap situation is only going to be improved for the Falcons with painful trades and with time. Trading Julio Jones was the first step the next could be trading Grady Jarrett this off-season. Atlanta needs to continue to focus on bargain deals on drafting their own talent.
Adding another massive contract isn’t an option for a team that has missed far too often in free agency. These five players, in particular, should be avoided if Atlanta wants to have a productive off-season.