The first couple of waves of free agency have past, and most of the top names are off the board. But some still remain, and the Falcons are among the teams with the most cap space available at $24.1 million, per Over The Cap. Terry Fontenot still has some money to spend this offseason, and I expect him to continue to be active in the coming days. Most signings will likely be small, but there could be at least one significant splash remaining. Here are five marquee names remaining on the open market that could interest the Falcons.
Yannick Ngakoue
Ngakoue’s run defense leaves a lot to be desired, but few have been better than him at rushing the passer in recent years. Since he entered the league in 2016, he’s had at least eight sacks in every season, including 19.5 over the last two years. The Falcons have boasted one of the worst pass rushes for over a decade now. They desperately need to add players that can sack the quarterback. I don’t expect Ngakoue to break the bank, and he would be a quality addition to the Falcons defensive line.
Leonard Floyd
Floyd has became a sack artist over his last three seasons with the Rams, racking up 29 sacks. He might be the best pass rusher still available on the market, but I understand why the Falcons would be wary. Playing next to Aaron Donald makes everyone look better. Dante Fowler looked like an All-Pro in Los Angles before signing with Atlanta, where he had very little impact. Still, the former Georgia Bulldog would be an excellent addition to the Falcons pass rush.
Dalton Risner
With Kaleb McGary back in the fold, the Falcons offensive line should once again be a strength of the team going into 2023, but it can still improve. Atlanta needs to bring in some competition at left guard, and I wouldn’t mind adding a center as well. Risner would be a quality addition. He’s started 62 games over the last four seasons, and while he was mostly average, a coaching staff like the Falcons that accentuates the strengths of their offensive linemen could get the best out of him.
Ben Jones
Jones could end up retiring, but as of now, it looks like he still has interest in playing. Perhaps he would have interest in wrapping up his career close to home. He was an anchor for the Georgia Bulldogs offensive line before he was drafted 99th overall in the 2012 draft. Jones also has ties to Arthur Smith from his days in Tennessee. He would be an immediate upgrade at center and solidify the Falcons up front.
Rock Ya-Sin
The Falcons’ secondary received a much-needed upgrade when the team signed Jessie Bates III to a four-year contract. It’s beginning to look like a respectable group, but the cornerback room could still use some bolstering. Rock Ya-Sin was a highly touted prospect in the 2019 draft and ended up going 34th overall to the Colts. He never quite lived up to his potential, but he’s an aggressive corner with some upside. If the price is right, I wouldn’t mind the Falcons taking a chance on him.
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