The Atlanta Falcons have a lot of key decisions to make heading into next season and Roddy White is one of them. The wide receiver has been with the franchise for his entire career and expects to end it with the same franchise. However, the NFL is a business and White might not get that luxury. Regardless of whether or not the veteran stays put, the Falcons must beef up their receiver rotation in the offseason.
White is under contract through 2017 after signing a contract extension that was supposed to make him a Falcon for life. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, that is expected to remain the same as White has a manageable $4.25 million owed to him next year while counting $6 million against the salary cap. White admitted that he truly has no idea what will happen to him this offseason, but he expects to stay in Atlanta and finish where he started.
"I have no idea how next year's going to be," White said, via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. "I have no idea. I'm just going to take it in and try to finish as strong as possible, get myself ready to go for next year. Whatever happens after that, happens. I plan on being a Falcon forever. That's what they told me. That's where my heart is. That's where my mind's at."
Regardless of whether or not White stays or goes, the Falcons need to beef up the roster at the receiver position. The team has a long-term commitment in Julio Jones, but not much after that. Leonard Hankerson was a failed experiment. Eric Weems is not long for this team. Justin Hardy and Nick Williams have been slow to develop. That leaves nothing for Jones to work with which means the Falcons could get active in free agency for help.
TheFalcoholic.com made suggestions as to which players would be realistically attainable for Atlanta. Alshon Jeffery is not on that list as the Chicago Bears are expected to either sign him to a long-term deal Atlanta cannot afford to match or hit him with the franchise tag in which Atlanta would not give up two first-round picks to get around.
The Falcons will want youth if they are going to sign someone off the market. Travis Benjamin could be an ideal pick. He displayed potential with the Cleveland Browns while falling victim to a bad quarterback situation. Jermaine Kearse could be a target as his connection with Dan Quinn might play a part. Rishard Matthews could be another strong target for Atlanta after his breakout year with the Seattle Seahawks. The team needs a young, experienced player alongside Jones while Williams and Hardy develop. The free agent market will have affordable talent to help the cause.