The Falcons did not have the cash to make a real splash in free agency this year. Instead, they threw what little resources they had into upgrading the interior of their offensive line. Their two big moves were signing former Jets guard James Carpenter and former Giants guard Jamon Brown.
Just adding new bodies to the equation won’t necessarily solve the position’s problems, though. Carpenter and Brown could turn out to be solid long-term starters at left guard and right guard. They could also be busts. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus had them graded at 60.1 and 57.9 over the last two years, which are both considered “average” grades.
In any case, the Falcons aren’t paying Carpenter or Brown a monstrous amount of money. All Atlanta needs for these two moves to pay off is getting a pair of average starters at guard who aren’t total liabilities in pass protection.
