Two years after signing James Carpenter as a free agent, the Atlanta Falcons are expected to release the veteran guard on Tuesday, according to reports from the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.
The #Falcons are releasing veteran guard James Carpenter, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2021
The Falcons will be releasing OL James Carpenter, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2021
Reports of Carpenter’s release come just a few hours before the NFL’s franchise tag deadline. While the team is not expected to tag safety Keanu Neal, Atlanta still has time to change course with a few more moves to free up space.
According to OverTheCap’s salary cap projections, the Falcons were $19.5 million over the projected 2021 cap before cutting Carpenter, and should free up roughly $4 million once the move becomes official.
Don’t be surprised to see the Falcons add a guard in the upcoming NFL draft. Last year, the team selected versatile interior lineman Matt Hennessy in the third round.
Hennessy split reps with Carpenter at left guard early in 2020, but with center Alex Mack likely leaving in free agency, the team has two offensive line spots up for grabs.
