The Falcons have been active from the jump since the start of free agency. They’ve filled a number of holes, and the roster is beginning to look somewhat competent, which hasn’t been said about this organization in five years. However, if they want to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2017, there’s still a ton of work to be done. It likely won’t be possible this offseason, but the Falcons do have plenty of cap space remaining to bring in some worthwhile pieces.
According to Over The Cap, following the announced re-structure of Jonnu Smith’s contract, the Falcons have just over $26 million to spend this offseason. Coincidentally, that’s the second-most in the league behind only the Bears, which is the exact same spot they were in to begin the offseason.
The Falcons will need around $8 million to sign their rookie class in a couple of months. They will also likely keep a few million sitting in the bank for potential mid-season acquisitions. So, I would estimate they really only have about $15-16 million to spend on the remainder of free agency, but that’s plenty of money to make significant upgrades across the roster.
Even after their spending spree over the last week, every aspect of the team could could still be bolstered. The most significant needs on offense are at wide receiver and across the offensive line. Drake London needs some help, even with Kyle Pitts hoping for a bounce back campaign in his third season. That’s a dynamic duo, but the rest of the Falcons pass catchers leave a lot to be desired. The offensive line was a strong point for the team last season, but some competition at left guard as well as center could have the group looking even better in 2023.
Defensively, the Falcons could add at all three levels. But I’m specifically looking across the offensive line and for at least one more corner/safety. The defensive line needs multiple bodies added before the start of the season, and with Isaiah Oliver off to San Francisco, the Falcons need to find a replacement at nickel.
It may not seem like a ton of money, but this has been Terry Fontenot’s bread and butter early on in his tenure as the Falcons general manager. He has been able to find great value on smaller deals, so while there may not be anymore splash signings for the Falcons this offseason, several critical signings could be on their way to Atlanta soon.
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