PFF grades each 2023 free agent addition for the Falcons

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.