ATLANTA _ The Falcons, who released Devonta Freeman earlier this week, are set to sign former Georgia standout Todd Gurley to a one-year deal, multiple reports have been confirmed.
After a storied career at Georgia, Gurley was selected 10th overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2015 draft _ two picks after the Falcons selected defensive end Vic Beasley.
Gurley was released by the now-Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, while Beasley was allowed to leave in free agency after the 2019 season. Beasley, who had a league-high 15.5 sacks in 2016 with 15.5, recently signed a one-year deal worth up to $12.5 million with Tennessee.
The Falcons also signed former Rams defensive end Dante Fowler in free agency.
The Falcons and Dolphins were interested in Gurley, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson, with the Falcons looking to fill the backfield void after cutting Freeman. The issue for Gurley is his knee and how the Falcons fit him under an already tight salary cap.
Signing Gurley, a popular player during his three seasons with the Bulldogs, would be a popular move for a team that played to a nearly-half full Mercedes-Benz Stadium down the stretch last season.
The Rams released Gurley because of a massive contract and a troubling injury history.
The Rams made the move Thursday, several minutes before roughly $10 million in the three-time Pro Bowl selection's contract became fully guaranteed.
Gurley, who played at Tarboro High in North Carolina, had a productive, but turbulent career at UGA that included a four-game suspension and a major knee surgery.
Gurley injured the knee on his 29th carry of the Auburn game on Nov. 15, 2014. He had 138 yards at the time. It was his first game back after sitting out four games due to an NCAA suspension for accepting improper benefits. He received $3,000 for signing autographs.
Gurley, who was projected as a top-10 NFL draft selection, did not return to Georgia for his senior season. The dynamic running back finished his career ranked second in school history in career touchdowns (44), all-purpose yards (4,322) and rushing yards (3,285). He also held the UGA record for average yards per carry in his career (6.44), edging out Charley Trippi (6.42).
He became the first running back selected in the first round of the NFL draft since 2012.
Both Gurley and Beasley shot to the top of the profession at their positions, but couldn't sustain the success over a long period of time.
In his second season, Beasley led the league in sacks with 15.5 and won the Deacon Jones Award, went to the Pro Bowl and was named All-Pro. In three subsequent seasons, he did not reach double-digit sacks and was just allowed to leave in free agency.
Beasley recently agreed to a one-year deal with Tennessee that's worth up to $12.5 million.
Gurley was an immediate success, rushing for more than 1,000 yards as a rookie and earning Pro Bowl honors. He had dynamic seasons in 2017 and 2018, rushing for more than 1,200 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns in 2017 and 17 in 2018.
He was named the NFL offensive player of the year after the 2017 season.
Gurley played his first career postseason game against the Falcons in the wild-card round on Jan. 6, 2018. He rushed 14 times for 101 yards.
In the following season during the Rams' march to the Super Bowl, Gurley was slowed by injury. Last season, he clearly wasn't in his top form and rushed for 857 yards on 223 carries.
Gurley will consume $20.15 million in dead salary-cap space this season for the Rams, who signed the 2015 first-round pick to a four-year, $60 million contract with $45 million guaranteed in June 2018.
Gurley was cut before even playing the first year of that contract extension, which made him the highest-paid running back in the NFL at the time.
