It’s becoming clear the Falcons are going to essentially run it back with their current edge group and whoever they take in the draft because the potential free agent targets are dwindling.
Most recently, it’s Mike Danna, who is returning to the Chiefs on a three-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo.
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Danna isn’t some premier defender or anything, but he’s a solid contributor who logged 6.5 sacks and 50 tackles this past season. Over four years in Kansas City, he’s put up 128 combined tackles with 39 quarterback hits, 17 sacks, four passes defended and four forced fumbles.
The Falcons are seemingly running it back with Arnold Ebiketie, Lorenzo Carter, DeAngelo Malone, and Zach Harrison. It’s not even sticking with the status quo either because the defense’s co-sack leaders from 2023 are still on the market in Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree.
Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot have alluded to a potential reunion with Campbell, and that would certainly improve the look of the defensive line, but putting all of your eggs in that basket seems risky.
Every draft pundit has Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, or Laiatu Latu going to Atlanta, which would give Jimmy Lake another young, talented pass rusher. I still just can’t get behind not adding a proven commodity to the edge room before the season starts.
The Falcons signaled to the rest of the league that they believe they’re contenders when they signed Kirk Cousins, whether you or I agree with them. If we are in a win-now window, adding a proven pass rusher seems like a foregone conclusion, but here we are.
