Falcons 2027 free agent check-in: Cameron Thomas goes quiet, Jessie Bates shines

Since they had didn't have much cap space, the Atlanta Falcons' model this past offseason was to let their top free agents walk, pick up some compensatory picks, and use their limited money to sign a lot of low-stakes one-year deals, which made way for a lot of reclamation projects signing in Atlanta.

Even after inking some big-money extensions with some of the Falcons' most important players, new general manager Ian Cunningham will have a lot more money to spend this coming offseason, but of course, there are a lot of free-agents-to-be who are making a case to stay (or be let go) this season.

As I said during last week's edition of this list, I would be surprised if any more extensions come in before the season ends, but there is certainly a list of players campaigning to stay in A-Town long-term, and the opportunities for those players to make an impression on the new regime are ongoing.

The 3-4 Falcons are fresh off of a statement win over the San Francisco 49ers, and the 29-20 upset handed the 49ers their first loss of the season. So from that game, let's take a look at how these upcoming free agents fared, and if they helped or hurt their chances of coming back next season.

Checking in on some key Atlanta Falcons free agents entering Week 8

Jessie Bates has more than earned a new contract extension

I know I was critical of him at first, but star safety Jessie Bates III has been playing out of his mind these last couple of weeks. He's bean all over the field making plays, and against the 49ers, he came through by forcing two clutch turnovers of San Francisco to help the Falcons win the turnover battle.

The first one was a sensational interception of Brock Purdy in the red zone that halted a drive that almost certainly would've ended in points--and he displayed some nice toe drag swag on the play too. And then on the final drive, he forced the fumble of George Kittle that Kendal Daniels recovered and sealed the game.

These last couple of weeks, Bates has made a clear case for a new extension, and given he's 29 and will be 30 at the start of next season, it's safe to assume the Dirty Birds won't have to break the bank to keep him. If they can sign him to a three-year extension worth about $60 million that'd do the trick.

Given JB3 is still one of the best players (and leaders) on this roster and that safeties can remain elite into their early-to-mid 30s, Week 7 all but confirmed that not only should Jessie Bates not be traded, but that he deserves every penny he'll eventually end up getting.

Divine Deablo all but confirmed he's on the way out

Divine Deablo didn't even play on Sunday due to a forearm injury, yet the defense looked totally fine without him. In his absence, the Falcons turned to their prized rookies, fourth-round pick Kendal Daniels and sixth-rounder Harold Perkins Jr. as the starting linebackers, and they both impressed.

We all know Daniels' story. Just a week after he was stretchered off the field with a neck injury, he came through. But he also wore the green dot without Deablo, where he logged a team-high 11 tackles (nine solo), a TFL, and a PBU, and also delivered the game-sealing pick against Purdy and recovered the fumble Bates forced against Kittle. Because of him, they won this game.

Meanwhile, Perkins had a good game as well. He amassed nine tackles (four solo) and a tackle for a loss and once again impressed in coverage. It's safe to say Atlanta has found the future of their linebacker room, which means it's a given that they're going to let Deablo walk in free agency.

Cameron Thomas did little to separate himself

Cameron Thomas had been one of the breakout stars of the season for this Falcons' defense this season. He stepped up in the face of all the injuries on the defensive line, and for $3 million, had been a steal, as his 25 pressures through six weeks were tied for the ninth-most among all edge rushers.

However, things did not go as planned for him against the 49ers. In 41 snaps (24 as a pass-rusher), he failed to record a single pressure for the first time in a game this season. And Jared Ivey and recent pickup Charles Snowden are among the defensive linemen who did more to get to Purdy in the win.

The Falcons have all three of Samson Ebukam, Za'Darius Smith (who had a clutch fourth-down sack of Purdy), and Thomas hitting free agency, and early on it seemed like he was the obvious player to extend, but now this looks less clear.

LaCale London's emergence could come at the expense of Zach Harrison

In addition to the injured Da'Shawn Hand, the Falcons have two IDLs set to hit free agency in the coming months: LaCale London and Zach Harrison. Originally, Harrison felt like the obvious player to keep, but ever since his release and subequent return, London has quietly been one of the stars of the defense, which continued in Week 7.

The win saw both London and Harrison each rack up a pressure, but outside of that, it was the former who was a lot more productive. He amassed three tackles (all stops) and continued to excel as a run defender, as according to Pro Football Focus, his 85.0 run defense grade was third among all qualified DTs in Week 7.

Stopping the run is where LaCale London has made his money. According to ESPN research, his 48% run-stop win rate leads all defensive tackles through seven weeks, and given London has been better and will likely command less money, the Falcons should extend him and let Harrison walk.

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