While addressing the media on Wednesday, Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham admitted waiving Zach Harrison to make room for three waiver claims was not an easy decision..
According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Cunningham called releasing Harrison “a gut punch, but that's not all. The Falcons were fortunate enough to get Harrison back on their practice squad, but Cunningham's comments make it clear that Atlanta did not simply view the move as an easy decision.
"He’s a pro’s pro," Cunningham said. "He’s a great guy. We got him back on practice squad, happy to get him back. It gives us some veteran leadership on practice squad. In the event we need him, he’ll be ready."
That is a pretty strong endorsement of a player the Falcons just decided they could afford to let go.
The Atlanta Falcons didn't want to lose Zach Harrison despite cutting him
The Atlanta Falcons needed to create room for three waiver claims, adding linebackers Yasir Abdullah and Jared Ivey along with offensive tackle Cameron Williams… Someone had to go, and the former third-round pick ended up being one of the casualties.
From a roster-building perspective, the decision is understandable. Every NFL team faces difficult cuts at the end of the preseason, and Atlanta clearly believed the players it added gave the roster more immediate value. But the 25-year-old was a particularly interesting player to sacrifice.
If Harrison were simply a player the Falcons had moved on from, there would be little reason for the general manager to describe his release as a “gut punch.” Instead, Atlanta clearly wanted to keep him in the building badly enough to bring him back onto the practice squad after he cleared waivers.
So this release nearly blew up in their face--and that could prove to be important.
Atlanta's pass rush makes the decision riskier bevcause the Falcons are not exactly entering the season with an embarrassment of riches along the defensive line. Jalon Walker is already out for the season (torn ACL). James Pearce Jr. is suspended for the first eight games of the season.
Sure Atlanta has added veteran Za'Darius Smith and traded for Gervon Dexter, while also bringing in other pieces to strengthen the defensive front. The waiver claim of Ivey gives the team another young defensive lineman to develop.
Still, Harrison represented another young player with NFL experience who had already shown flashes of being a useful contributor. That's why this move felt questionable in the first place.
Yes the Falcons ultimately got the best possible outcome by getting Zach Harrison back. But for a team already dealing with major losses on the defensive front, him staying on the practice squad where he's free to get poached is a gamble worth watching.
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