The Atlanta Falcons are releasing cornerback Robert Alford at the end of a disappointing 2018 season, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Alford had been with the team for six years and started 67 of 69 games (including playoffs) over the last four seasons.
By cutting Alford, the Falcons will save themselves about $7.9 million in salary cap room for 2019. He will count for $1.2 million in dead money, though, according to Over the Cap.
Alford was originally a second-round pick by the Falcons in the 2013 NFL draft. His tenure in Atlanta was defined by inconsistent play and an inordinate number of pass interference penalties. The 2018 season was especially rough for Alford. In the end, he was ranked No. 105 among cornerbacks for the year by Pro Football Focus.
It will be interesting to see where Alford lands in free agency. Even though he had a brutal year, he knows a defensive system that’s become popular around the NFL and he’s played well in the past.
With Alford no longer on the roster, expect second-round pick Isaiah Oliver to take on a larger role for the Falcons secondary. However, Oliver had his own issues as a rookie. Don’t be surprised if the team uses a mid-round pick on a cornerback in this year’s draft.
Update:
Alford shared a classy message on Twitter after the news, thanking Atlanta for six “incredible” seasons.
