Atlanta Falcons: Countdown to the start of 2023 free agency

We are nearing an important time for the Atlanta Falcons. Free agency looms and the Falcons will be as active as anyone considering they have the second-most cap space in the NFL.

It is a pivotal time for Terry Fontenot as there is a fine line between being aggressive and reckless. You can either set your team up for success or you can ruin their cap situation for the next five years—something we all know too well.

Countdown to the start of free agency for the Atlanta Falcons and the rest of the NFL

The official start of the NFL’s new league year and the start of free agency is on March 15th at 4 p.m. eastern time. That is the moment when all of the Falcons players with expiring contracts, will officially be free agents

Here is a live countdown down to the exact minute:

Countdown Until NFL Free Agency

When that timer hits zero, teams will be able to officially sign any unrestricted free agent they want, assuming the two sides come to an agreement.

However, you will see reports and rumors prior to that time due to the NFL’s official tampering period which officially starts on March 13th at 12 p.m. eastern time. During that period of about two days, teams are allowed to negotiate with free agents, but deals are not allowed to be signed. Players can officially sign the dotted line once free agency starts on the 15th.

Which Falcons players are due to hit the open market?

The Atlanta Falcons have a couple players that they should be concerned about losing, but thankfully, the team won’t be ruined if they let those players walk. The Falcons have a total of 25 players who are headed for free agency.

Here are the 12 offensive players whose contracts will expire:

• Marcus Mariota – QB
• Keith Smith – FB
• Olamide Zaccheaus – WR
• Damiere Byrd – WR
• Khadarel Hodge – WR
• Anthony Firkser – TE
• MyCole Pruitt – TE
• Kaleb McGary – OT
• Chuma Edoga – OT
• Germain Ifedi – OT
• Elijah Wilkinson – OG
• Colby Gossett – OG

Here are the 11 defensive players:

• Vincent Taylor – DT
• Jaleel Johnson – DT
• Matt Dickerson – DE
• Abdullah Anderson – DE
• Lorenzo Carter – OLB
• Rashaan Evans – LB
• Nick Kwiatkoski – LB
• Isaiah Oliver – CB
• Michael Ford – CB
• Rashad Fenton – CB
• Erik Harris – S

And finally, here are the two special teamers:

• Bradley Pinion – P
• Beau Brinkley – LS

The player that sticks out the most is Kaleb McGary. He had a breakout year and fits Arthur Smith’s offense well. Whether or not the team is convinced from one good year is another question but they would be foolish to not try to bring him back.

Rashaan Evans is another player they will look to re-sign as both sides have mutual interest. And then four other names you should watch out for are Olamide Zaccheaus, Abdullah Anderson, Lorenzo Carter, and Isaiah Oliver.

Free agency is an interesting time and the Falcons should at least make a couple of splashes with their $66.7 million in cap space.