Falcons safety Keanu Neal is out for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles. That means for the second straight year the team is in dire need of some more depth in the secondary. Last year, Atlanta chose not to add outside help, instead electing to play a platoon of Sharrod Neasman and Jordan Richards at strong safety. The results were not ideal.
Even though it would defy their usual way of doing business, this year might be different. The Falcons are bringing in two veteran free agent safeties for a visit today. According to a report by Mike Garafolo at NFL Network, they’ll be meeting with George Iloka and T.J. McDonald.
Iloka (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) is the more experienced of the two. He’s played in 99 career regular season games, mostly with the Bengals. Iloka spent last season in Minnesota with the Vikings. He has posted nine interceptions, 32 pass breakups and 362 total tackles so far.
McDonald (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) has played 75 games between the Rams and Dolphins, totaling eight picks, 25 pass breakups and 412 tackles.
Neither one would likely cost much, which is good because the Falcons don’t have much cap room. Over the Cap says they have just $3.4 million available.
