ATLANTA _ The Falcons addressed their need for pass-rushing help by agreeing to a three-year, $48 million deal with Dante Fowler Wednesday, according to the NFL Network.
The report has been confirmed.
Fowler had 11.5 sacks with the Los Angeles Rams last season
The Falcons let defensive end/linebacker Vic Beasley leave in free agency.
After being selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, Beasley played more than 3,000 snaps for the Falcons over five seasons and had 37.5 sacks and 11 forced fumbles.
Fowler is a replacement for Beasley.
Fowler, according to draft analyst Tony Pauline of the Pro Football Network, wanted to play for the Falcons.
"Buyer beware here," former NFL executive Charley Casserly said on NFL Network. "Here's the thing, I don't think the guy has ever put it together on a consistent basis over his career. Now, this year I saw a lot of positive things in the games I watched. I saw pass rush from the outside. I saw the ability to set the edge and play the run, which he did not do (in 2018). So, the potential is there. But to me, it's buyer beware."
Fowler, who was drafted No. 3 overall by Jacksonville in the same draft as Beasley, was traded by the Jaguars to the Rams.
"On talent, he's got more rush ability than Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith as an outside rusher, but he has not been as consistent as you'd like him to be for a top pick," Casserly said. "If he was that consistent, he would still be in Jacksonville."
Preston Smith was a second-round pick in the 2015 draft and had 12 sacks with Green Bay last season. Za'Darius Smith was a fourth-round pick out of Kentucky in 2015. He had 13.5 sacks with the Packers last season.
Fowler was recruited to play at Florida in college by Falcons coach Dan Quinn.
Fowler is projected to be worth a four-year, $59.2 million deal or an average of $14.8 million per year, according to salary cap website spotac.com.
