With the start of the new NFL league year two weeks away, the Atlanta Falcons will have the opportunity to begin talks with free agents they believe would be a good fit for the franchise and while there is no immediate indication on any particular player they may be interested in, the NFL Scouting Combine activity has signaled the franchise is focused on improving their defense.
“Get every defensive player that you possibly can, identify the guys that can come in and play immediately because when you look at the Falcons’ roster on defense, we all say it, there’s two guys that are untouchable, three maybe,” Drew Butler said on Thursday as he and Steak Shapiro shared their thoughts on reports the Falcons only interviewed defensive players in Indianapolis at the combine this week and no members of the offensive staff made the trip.
“Jessie Bates, A.J. Terrell, and depending on what they do with Grady Jarrett, other than that, every other position on the Falcons defense has the ability to bring in some new blood and get a new look,” Butler continued as he stated he believed all three players would be the only ones to consider as must haves.
However, as their conversation continued, Shapiro noted Jarrett, who is on the final year of a three- year contract extension and due $15,250,000 this season according to Spotrac, is an older player heading into his second season off an ACL injury and his 10th NFL season and the Falcons could make a case for a contract restructuring conversation to be held with Jarrett.
“The Grady Jarrett number is not a number you need to take on next year for a guy clearly on the back end,” Shapiro said in response to Butler’s comments, referencing several high-profile defenders who had been let go by their respective franchise a few seasons prior to their careers ending. “How do you commit twenty million to a guy on the backside of his career,” Shapiro added in regards to the cap hit the Falcons would take should they bring the veteran linebacker back.