Three available free agents who the Falcons could sign before Thursday’s draft.
While all of the focus is on the 2024 NFL Draft, there are still helpful additions out on the free-agent market.
When that first wave of signings passes things calm down dramatically. Players will often wait until after the draft to latch on with a team that wasn’t able to fill a position. But for the Falcons, they should take the opposite approach and sign a free agent or two who will open up their horizons in the draft.
Here are three players the Falcons should sign prior to the draft.
1. Russell Gage, WR
Starting with a familiar face, Russell Gage is coming off of an early season-ending injury and he should be more than recovered by now. Gage just turned 28 years old a few months ago, he still has plenty of tread on his wheels.
The nice thing with Gage is that he will know how things work under Raheem Morris and he has the versatility to play outside or in the slot. There is also the added benefit of his arm which could be used on an occasional trick play.
While the Falcons have made many moves at wide receiver already, they still need to improve the depth and Gage would do just that.
2. Xavien Howard, CB
Xavien Howard’s value dropped off a cliff fast. Injuries have derailed his career but a team will still sign him to a one-year deal before the season—that team should be the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons have A.J. Terrell as their top corner but they don’t have a clear second corner for 2024. Howard, not too long ago, was a top-five corner in the NFL, and the Falcons should take the chance and sign him.
Who knows how much he is commanding or if he will agree to a contract before the draft. The Falcons should call him up and gauge his interest before another team swoops in a takes him. It would be a low-risk, high-reward signing.
3. Jamal Adams, S
The Seahawks got burned in the Jamal Adams trade. While Adams has been good at points in his career, he is limited in coverage and has been injured more often than not.
There is no reason for any team to sign him to anything more than a one-year deal. There is too much risk to take a big swing at a long-term contract. If the Falcons can agree one-year deal for a few million, then they should add him.
With a free safety like Jessie Bates patrolling the middle of the field, Jamal Adams could be the sub-linebacker. Putting him in a position to play in short areas and use his physicality would help him be the player he once was. The Falcons need to sign him so they don’t have to force drafting a strong safety.
