Free Agent Targets - LB
A perhaps overlooked need this offseason is finding a leader in the middle of the defense
While linebacker remains a position of 'low value’ the Falcons have real need for a leader in the middle of their defense around which the rebuilding unit can be anchored.
Troy Andersen was a high draft pick and while he is a developmental type who you would expect to take a jump in year 2, there have to be worries about just how much Andersen can (or should) be relied upon to contribute next year. At this point the hope for Andersen rests more in his draft position than anything he has shown us on an NFL field.
Elsewhere Dorian Ethridge and Nate Landman are two players worth investing in as depth options and Mykal Walker is an adequate backup. While understandably linebacker may not be worth heavy investment there is a very real argument that two starting level off ballers are required this offseason.
Below is a list of linebackers we feel make sense for the Falcons and who, should they hit FA would be worth a second look. We have left off players such as Lavonte David whom we assume will resign in Tampa and become a Bucs lifer.
Tremaine Edmunds
While Edmunds is the only player from the 2018 draft he is comfortably the youngest player on this list despite already having 5 years of NFL experience. Edmunds was a high draft pick and while the Bills may not feel they have gotten ‘value for money’ Edmunds has really found his groove this season.
Equally adept in coverage as in the box Edmunds is a true ‘modern’ linebacker with sideline to sideline range and the size/athleticism combo to cover both RB’s and TE’s.
Edmunds also brings the shine of a first round pedigree and at only 24 he conceivably is still an ascending player who would fit neatly into the Falcons timeline.
Edmunds ticks all the boxes, his only drawback being presumed cost. Valuable off ball linebackers are exceedingly hard to find and as a result the position is plagued with terrible contracts. While Edmunds is a very good player, as a former first round pick and coming from a high profile Bills defense he is absolutely going to demand the bag this summer. (If Foye Oluokun can get $15million a year on the open market Edmunds has to think he can get close to the $20 million/yr deals the likes of Roquan Smith, Shaq Leonard and Fred Warner have recently signed).
While we appreciate Edmunds the player, history screams that this money would be better assigned elsewhere with Lb’er filled with cheaper, albeit less sexy options.
T.J. Edwards
An UDFA out of Wisconsin, Edwards has proven to be a valuable asset for the Eagles and in 2022 he emerged as one of the best off ballers in the league. As can be seen from our table Edwards either leads or sits towards the top in every chosen statistic from this year and yet it would not at all be surprising if his next contract AAV is far from top of this list.
While there is always some risk in handing out contracts to a position of high variance and low value, Edwards has done everything on the field to alleviate these fears and as such he should be a hot commodity and worth of the Falcons attentions.
We also know that as a former UDFA, Edwards is far more likely to sign a value deal compared to a player of similar level who comes with a high draft pedigree.
Germaine Pratt
Another player from the 2019 class and another player who really took until year 4 to find his feet. While a big, athletic frame a big reason for Pratt’s improved play this year has been his improved tackling with his 5.5% missed tackle percentage a clear career best.
While his coverage grade and reception percentage are both extremely high this year his Y/Rec is towards the higher end and as such without a more detailed film study it is hard to be confident about Pratt’s true value here.
David Long
Perhaps the closest equivalent to Rashaan Evans on this list, Long is a hard nosed linebacker whose primary asset is his run defense. While like Evans, Long is essentially a liability in coverage perhaps the team would be more willing to accept this if assuming the coverage mantle can be covered by Troy Andersen.
While we think this would be a mistake Andersen was a high draft pick and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him given significant opportunity to prove himself next year.
Bobby Okereke
Another player from the 2019 draft, Okereke is another super athletic linebacker who contributed from his rookie season. Despite his athleticism, Okereke is similar to Evans and Long in the sense that his main value comes vs the run.
While his profile is slightly more up and down than the others on this list, Okereke is entering free agency on the back of a terrible Colts season. There is therefore every chance that his value/stock could be lower than if he was coming from a playoff team.
An interesting crop of linebackers undeniably headlined by Tremaine Edmunds whose unquestionable quality comes hand in hand with the big contract he will presumably sign. While his profile is far more understated T.J. Edwards has really come into his own this season on an NFC leading Eagles team and while it is always difficult to predict contracts, it would not at all be a surprise to see Edwards sign a far friendlier team deal than that of Edmunds. If this is the case Edwards becomes an obvious target. Germaine Pratt is probably the surprise package of the group in that his value is still somewhat unknown. Pratt’s 2022 season has been very good but will the market reward one year of production with a long term contract? Okereke & Long meanwhile are solid players whose skillsets would fit in well with a position group in need of an enforcer.
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