Since placing the franchise tag on defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, the Atlanta Falcons don’t have much salary cap space as the new league year gets underway this week. Restructuring Matt Ryan’s deal will reportedly save the team another $7 million though, which should give them enough to go after a couple of mid-level or bargain free agents to fill their needs.
These six players who are about to hit the open market should be in Atlanta’s price-range and could help in 2019.
DT Bennie Logan
Age: 30
Pros: The Falcons drafted raw but talented defensive tackle Deadrin Senat last season but the team could still use another DT to add to the mix. Logan started for much of his career in Philadelphia but was mostly a backup in Tennessee last year. He’s a veteran 4-3 interior defensive lineman that could help the Falcons against the run better than Terrell McClain did.
Cons: Logan could hinder Senat’s growth and the Falcons love to rely on younger, cheaper options due to the strong belief in their ability to develop players. Logan would go against this philosophy and at 30, may not have a ton of tread left on his tires.
DT Brandon Mebane
Age: 34
Pros: While it may come as a surprise, 34-year-old defensive tackle Brandon Mebane is still a very productive player. He racked up 40 tackles while starting 12 games for the Chargers last season. Mebane has previous experience with coach Dan Quinn from their time together in Seattle.
Cons: Mebane may not want to move across the country to play for Atlanta as they are coming off of a down season. Meanwhile, the Chargers got to the second round of the playoffs and look to be getting even better via free agency. It might be a tough sell to bring Mebane to the Falcons.
G James Carpenter
Age: 30
Pros: Atlanta has had trouble at guard over the past two seasons. Carpenter started just 10 games last year but started all 16 the previous three at left guard for the Jets. Putting him next to a veteran center like Alex Mack and he could maximize his remaining years while likely getting paid an average guard kind of contract.
Cons: His Pro Football Focus grade of 56.3 made him the No. 54 rated guard in 2018 and his best days are likely behind him. Like all players mentioned on this list, there’s going to be a reason these guys are affordable. A cheaper option in the draft makes sense, although the Falcons haven’t had as much luck with offensive line prospects as they have in other areas.
TE Darren Fells
Age: 32
Pros: Fells would be an incredibly cheap option at tight end after being released by Cleveland. He’s a veteran that is respectable as a run blocker and a better weapon than he gets credit for (he scored three touchdowns in 2018). Fells is the kind of depth signing that would make sense for Atlanta as new offensive coaches Mike Mularkey and Dirk Koetter both like to utilize multiple tight ends.
Cons: Fells just doesn’t do anything well enough to justify signing him over drafting another tight end in what’s considered to be a great class for the position. The contract would certainly be a one-year, minimum salary type of deal, but he doesn’t have much to look forward to.
CB E.J. Gaines
Age: 27
Pros: Gaines, a 2014 sixth-round pick, played extremely well in 2017 for Buffalo before signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Browns last year. He struggled in Cleveland due to injuries and not being a great fit. So Gaines’ stock is down, but he still has upside and would fill the Falcons’ need for a nickel corner.
Cons: Gaines should still command around a few million per year, which seems like a lot for a guy that may not be better than what the team can find in the draft. He could probably find a more lucrative deal elsewhere.
LB Shane Ray
Age: 25
Pros: Ray was considered a high-risk/high-reward pass rusher that has mostly flamed out for the Broncos over the past two seasons. His stock is at an all-time low, but he also has more potential than most of the others on this list. Injuries have played somewhat of a role in Ray’s ineffectiveness since 2017 and Dan Quinn could potentially tap into what once made him a top pass-rushing prospect.
Cons: The production just hasn’t been there for Ray. He found himself a healthy scratch late last season and a turnaround could be wishful thinking. Sure, Quinn could get his hands on Ray and make something out of him, but there’s a reason Denver didn’t bring him back.
