With free agency just over 24 hours away, the Atlanta Falcons have been quiet. The team has plenty of holes to fill on the roster, but have yet to make any big moves towards the effort. They have re-signed players like Eric Weems and Matt Bryant, but so far the pass rushing, tight end and wide receiver needs have been left empty. With several of the players the Falcons were eyeing already signed to other teams, what will Atlanta do when the market opens up on Tuesday?
ESPN's Vaughn McClure is currently trying to calm several Falcons fans down as some fear this offseason will go just as poorly as last year's did. Sean Weatherspoon is headed to Arizona. Devin McCourty re-sign with the Patriots. Brian Orakpo and Julius Thomas are too expensive. Jerry Hughes and Niles Paul are not available anymore. This leaves the Falcons searching for Plan B options as many hope Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn know what they are doing.
McClure reports that there are several options for the Falcons when the market opens that would be strong additions for the team to help rebuild in 2015. The tight end position must take priority as the Falcons would prefer to sign a free agent rather than draft a rookie to pair with Levine Toilolo. Thomas is simply too expensive, but Jordan Cameron and Owen Daniels could be options. Both players have injury history, but could be affordable options for the Falcons.
With Byron Maxwell and Brooks Reed requesting too much money, McClure believes the Falcons will aim to sign players like Brandon Graham, Derrick Morgan and Jason Worilds. There are plenty of options still on the table for Atlanta, but most of them are not the high-profiled picks that fans wanted to see after two down years. With other players like Weatherspoon and Robert McClain leaving, many were hoping the Falcons would make early jumps on players that are going to get a lot of attention on the open market and so far that is not happening.
The draft will also be big for Atlanta. AJC.com believes that will be where Atlanta looks to find Harry Douglas' replacement. The team must get younger at the wide receiver spot since Julio Jones is the only one under 30. Acquiring someone like DeVante Parker, Sammie Coates or even Amari Cooper could be big for Atlanta.
