Falcons free agent follows Ryan Nielsen to Jacksonville

Dan Quinn has brought several former Falcons with him to Washington, including Dante Fowler, Mykal Walker, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Damiere Byrd. Arthur Smith has done the same with the Steelers, bringing Cordarrelle Patterson, MyCole Pruitt, Scotty Miller, and Van Jefferson to Pittsburgh with him.

Ryan Nielsen came over from New Orleans to Atlanta last year and completely turned the Falcons defense around. Jessie Bates, David Onyemata, and Kaden Elliss certainly deserve a share of the credit, but Nielsen’s work cannot be understated.

The new Jaguars defensive coordinator is one of the best and brightest minds on that side of the ball, and Falcons fans just assuming Jimmy Lake will pick up where he left off are counting their chickens before they’re hatched.

Flowers signed with the Falcons last season and got some burn immediately. Jeff Okudah wasn’t able to start the season opposite A.J. Terrell because of injury, paving the way for the veteran Flowers.

With the Jags, he’ll likely have to carve out a role on special teams if he wants to make the final 53-man roster.