I’d encourage you to read the whole article with full breakdowns, but here are the highs and lows for the Falcons:
OT KALEB MCGARY RE-SIGNING WITH ATLANTA FALCONS ON A THREE-YEAR, $34.5 MILLION DEAL
2022 PFF Grade: 86.6 (4th/81 T) 2022 PFF WAR: 0.25 (13th T)
- Fit/need grade: A
- Value grade: A
QB TAYLOR HEINICKE SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH ATLANTA FALCONS
2022 PFF Grade: 49.8 (38th/39 QB) 2022 PFF WAR: -0.15 (77th QB)
- Fit/need grade: C
- Value grade: C+
- Contract: Two years, $14 million ($7 million per year), $6.32 million total guaranteed
LB KADEN ELLISS SIGNS THREE-YEAR DEAL WITH ATLANTA FALCONS
- Fit/need grade: A
- Value grade: C+
- Contract: Three years, $21.5 million ($7.17 million per year), $11 million guaranteed
- PFF projected contract: Two years, $8.5 million ($4.25 million per year), $5.25 million guaranteed
S JESSIE BATES SIGNS WITH ATLANTA FALCONS
- Fit/need grade: A-
- Value grade: B+
- Contract: Four years, $64.02 million ($16 million per year), TBD guarantees
- PFF projected contract: Five years, $80 million ($16 million per year), $43.75 million total guaranteed
DI DAVID ONYEMATA PLANS TO SIGN DEAL “CLOSE TO $12 MILLION PER YEAR” WITH ATLANTA FALCONS
- Fit/need grade: A
- Value grade: B-
- Contract: Three years, $35 million, $24.5 million guaranteed
G CHRIS LINDSTROM SIGNS FIVE-YEAR, $105 MILLION EXTENSION WITH ATLANTA FALCONS
- Fit/need grade: A
- Value grade: B+
ATLANTA FALCONS TRADE FOR TE JONNU SMITH
- Falcons receive: TE Jonnu Smith
- Patriots receive: Seventh-round pick
- Fit/need grade: C
- Value grade: B-
I disagree with PFF on a few points. I think they’re too hard on the Heinicke signing; that’s a decent price for a backup quarterback who went toe-to-toe with Tom Brady in a playoff game. The Falcons had to add to their quarterback room in some capacity. They still might in the draft, but Heinicke is a quality veteran that can push Desmond Ridder in camp and play in a pinch if there’s an injury.
I think Smith was a bit more of a need than they give Atlanta credit for, especially with almost no receivers on the roster. Arthur Smith loves deploying two tight-end sets, and bringing in Smith should allow the Falcons to utilize Pitts much more as a receiver. Other than that, it’s been a favorable start for the Falcons, who still have some money to spend and holes to fill before the start of the season.
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