Atlanta Falcons: Damiere Byrd was the underrated signing of offseason

The Atlanta Falcons changed their wide receiver room around completely during the offseason. Gone are the days of Julio Jones, Mohammed Sanu, Russell Gage, and even Taylor Gabriel.

Not to mention, they lost Calvin Ridley to a long suspension following his disappointing year last year.

They brought in Drake London via the draft, traded for Bryan Edwards, and signed KhaDarel Hodge, but the addition of Damiere Byrd has been an underrated signing for Terry Fontenot.

Damiere Byrd was overlooked, but now he is making plays for the Atlanta Falcons

One thing the Atlanta Falcons needed to add to their wide receiver corps is speed and they found that in the veteran Damiere Byrd.

Byrd originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the team he just shredded for a long touchdown on Sunday — the Carolina Panthers.

He was there for three seasons then joined the Arizona Cardinals for one season, the New England Patriots for one season, and then the Chicago Bears last season.

He has been a journeyman that has still produced quality stats, mostly over the past three years, but now he seems to be a difference-maker for a team that hardly throws the ball through the air.

The first flash came in week four when Marcus Mariota targetted him in the end zone but the pass was incomplete — although, one would argue that he was interfered with and should have drawn a penalty.

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His first catch as a Falcon came against the Cincinnati Bengals when he took the top off the defense at the end of the first half as he caught a 75-yard touchdown. He showed that this offense could be explosive.

Then in a critical game against the Panthers, at a critical time, he caught a pass, cut across the field, and then was shot out of a cannon for a 47-yard touchdown catch — his second catch of the season for a second touchdown.

It seems like Arthur Smith is taking note too as he is clearly getting more targets in the offense. he went on to be targeted near the end of regulation on the play that should have drawn a pass interference call on Carolina which would have set up a game-winning field goal.

He was also then targeted deep down the field in overtime that resulted in an interception, which, at the time, seemed to cost the Falcons the game, once again, but we all know how it ended.

So, the stock is soaring on Damiere Byrd and he may end up having a career year as he is clearly the deep threat for the Atlanta Falcons offense.