The Atlanta Falcons started the legal negotiating period with a splash, signing former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins - and then quickly pivoted to getting him some help.
Atlanta agreed to terms with tight end Charlie Woerner on a three-year, $12 million contract, per agent Alex Essex via ESPN's Michael Rothstein.
Woerner, a native of Tiger, Georgia, played at the University of Georgia from 2016-19 before being selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
The 26-year-old Woerner played in 65 games across four seasons with the 49ers, drawing seven starts. He totaled 11 receptions for 120 yards on 15 career targets.
This past season, Woerner caught all three of his targets for 32 yards but played a career-best 29 percent of San Francisco's offensive snaps.
Woerner's made his mark as a stout blocker and special teams player, as he's played at least 70 percent of the 49ers' special teams snaps in each of the past three years.
The 6-5, 241-pound Woerner made 10 tackles in 2023 and has 25 total takedowns to his name, including 17 solo.
Atlanta's tight ends room currently includes Kyle Pitts, John FitzPatrick and Tucker Fisk. Both FitzPatrick and Fisk earned reputations as block-first players, much like Woerner.
Beyond the homecoming factor, Woerner's signing with the Falcons has a familial tie, as his uncle, Scott, was drafted in the third round by Atlanta in 1981.
Now, the younger Woerner gets to represent his home state - and play an unheralded role on head coach Raheem Morris's first team.
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