The legal tampering period is in full swing ahead of NFL free agency, and a former Falcons receiver is headed to the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to Ian Rapoport, Russell Gage is the latest wide receiver to join the suddenly un-retired Tom Brady in Tampa after four seasons in Atlanta.
In 2021, Gage ranked second on the Falcons, behind Kyle Pitts, with 66 catches and 770 yards. He also finished second on the team in terms of receiving touchdowns with four.
With Gage’s departure, the question quickly becomes - who the heck is going to catch a pass for the Falcons in 2022?
Cordarrelle Patterson—the team’s leader in touchdown receptions—is a free agent, Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the upcoming season and RB Mike Davis—whose 44 catches ranked 4th on the team—is also a free agent.
The three remaining wide receivers under contract for the Falcons are Olamide Zaccheaus, Frank Darby and Austin Trammell. While Pitts is more of a wide receiver than a tight end, GM Terry Fontenot has a lot of work to do at the position.
The Falcons enter free agency with just under $14 million, according to Spotrac, and that number could fluctuate based on the potential restructuring of Matt Ryan’s contract. The move was reported late last week but has not yet been confirmed by the team.
With that in mind, the Falcons have two options—go bargain hunting in free agency or stockpile young receivers in the draft.
Especially with the inflated contract awarded to WR Christian Kirk by the Jaguars, the top free agents on the market—Allen Robinson, Jarvis Landry and JuJu Smith-Schuster—will likely be outside of the Falcons price range. Brining back Patterson as a hybrid RB/WR in Arthur Smith’s system seems like a logical move along with signing another veteran like Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Rashard Higgins to name a few examples.
Teams can officially begin signing players on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
With the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft, it could be enticing for the front office to select USC’s Drake London, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks or either of the Ohio State wideouts, but many fans are hoping to see a pass rusher taken at eight. The good news is that the Falcons have multiple second-round picks and a third-round pick where wide receivers could be targeted in a draft that is deep at the position, according to NFL analyst Charles Davis.
