The Falcons need significant upgrades in the trenches. The offensive line could use bolstering at three of the five positions, and the defensive front could use an influx of talent at every position outside of Grady Jarrett.
The Falcons announced the hiring of former Bears GM Ryan Pace a couple of weeks ago, who will join the personnel department as a senior personnel executive. Atlanta will undoubtedly give a thorough evaluation of this free-agent class, and Pace will be able to provide an inside perspective of Chicago’s crop of free agents.
Allen Robinson, Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols, and James Daniels are a few names that come to mind that Pace may vouch for; however, another free agent was added to the mix Friday afternoon.
Chicago released defensive tackle Eddie Goldman, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported. Rapoport added the Bears tried to find a suitor through a trade, but they have opted to release Goldman instead.
Goldman, still just 28-years-old, was slotted to count $11.81 million against Chicago’s salary cap in 2022. A combination of that price tag and the Bears’ schematic changes on defense resulted in him hitting the free-agent market.
A second-round pick from the 2015 NFL draft, Goldman was a crucial piece in the Bears’ 3-4 defense in Pace’s first year at the helm. In 81 career games, Goldman started 73 of them in his seven seasons with the team.
A reunion with the plethora of former Bears’ coaches, executives, and players seems in order for Goldman.
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