The Falcons have a lot of dead weight to cut in 2019 before they’re ready to take the field again. Their roster needs to get younger and deeper in several key spots. However, there are some pieces they should try to retain. Here’s five players who are about to become free agents that Atlanta should make an effort to re-sign.
DE Bruce Irvin
After signing in November, Irvin got off to a slow start in Atlanta. He did not collect a single sack in his first month with the Falcons. However, once Irvin settled in and got going, he was very productive down the stretch. Irvin posted 3.5 sacks in December and proved bringing him in was a good decision, even if it wasn’t enough to salvage the front seven from an off and injury-plagued year. If they can bring Irvin back at a hometown discount, he’d offer a solid value as a rotational piece.
CB Justin Bethel
One of the better under the radar moves the Falcons made last year in free agency was signing Justin Bethel to a one-year deal with a cap hit at $1.75 million. Bethel carried over his special teams excellence from his time in Arizona. The three-time Pro Bowler made a definitive impact for a phase that was awful at times in 2017. Re-signing Bethel for another year or two would be a wise investment for the new-look special teams unit under coordinator Ben Kotwica.
S Kemal Ishmael
Atlanta’s defense is young and talented. However, in 2018 it became clear that it’s not quite as deep as we previously thought. The injuries to Deion Jones, Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal turned a top-10 unit into one of the worst defenses in the league. Re-signing Ishmael would give the Falcons depth at both safety and linebacker as well as another special teams contributor.
WRs Justin Hardy, Marvin Hall
These two get grouped together because they play the same position and also shouldn’t cost much to bring back. Last year, Hardy’s cap number was $840,205 and Hall’s was $555,000. Hardy doesn’t get much attention but he’s about as good as No. 4 wide receivers come in the NFL. Hall has the speed to stretch a defense vertically and can also return kicks. If they can both be re-signed for about the same price, there’s no reason not to.
DT Grady Jarrett
Last but not least, we come to the elephant in the room. If the Falcons are unable to re-sign their star defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, then whatever else they do this offseason it will still be considered a failure. Jarrett has earned a handsome extension, establishing himself as one of football’s elite interior defenders in an era brimming with future Hall of Famers. The deal Fletcher Cox signed a few years ago (six years, $102.6 million, $36.3 million guaranteed) is widely seen as the best model for Jarrett’s next contract. Get it done.
