Tag: Rashaan Evans

7 free agents the Saints could sign before training camp

With plenty of salary cap space to spend, here are 7 free agents the New Orleans Saints could sign before training camp | @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints are rounding out the roster for the 2023 season, but there are still some intriguing names left on the free agent market that the team could look at. Whether it be filling a hole or adding some competition to a room that could use spicing up, it’s never a bad idea to look at who’s on the market.

Despite it being such a huge deal every off season, the Saints have some money left in the cap to work with this year. Thanks to the magic done by Khai Harley, the Saints are under the cap by an estimated $14,243,112 right now. That puts them right in the middle of the pack in the NFL.

Here are seven free agents that the Saints could use some of that money on:

10 available free agents who can still help the Colts

These free agents could still help the Colts in 2023.

The Indianapolis Colts just kicked off OTAs and are now in preparation mode in the lead-up to the opening game.

During this time the coaching staff won’t only be getting their players ready for the season but the front office is still evaluating the roster and deciding on if they want to bring on a veteran to add some depth and competition.

Per OverTheCap, the Colts are sitting with $16.2 million in effective cap space so they have enough room to make some additions. But Chris Ballard will also have to factor in the potential extensions for running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and possibly other players that entering their final year of the contract.

There are a good number of notable veteran free agents available on the market but for Indianapolis, they have to consider where they are at as a state of a franchise.

With the team entering a rebuilding year and the development of Anthony Richardson, this season might not make much sense for them to spend money as if they are going after a Super Bowl. The focus should be on getting the younger players on the roster to get the snaps for their development for 2024 and beyond.

That doesn’t mean Ballard shouldn’t go sign some veterans to compete with this roster, there are some spots on the depth chart I believe could use some depth so here are some players that could help out the Colts this season:

10 free agent fits that make sense for Patriots

10 free agent fits for the Patriots heading into the offseason.

The New England Patriots enter 2023 with some glaring holes on the roster after missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. As of today, per Miguel Benzan (PatsCap), the Patriots have $34,067,070 in cap space.

The team could create more cap space by structuring contracts to fit, if needed. Before any signings get announced, let’s look at the players who could fit the mold in New England.

The Patriots may not spend as heavy as 2021, and certainly wont sign all of the top free agents. But what free agents fit well enough with the team to prompt a move in 2023?

Here are 10 players that could be future Patriots.

10 pending free agents the Falcons should re-sign in 2023

10 pending free agents the #Falcons should look to retain this offseason

Due to salary cap constraints, the Atlanta Falcons were forced to hand out a number of one-year deals last offseason, but that won’t be the case in 2023 when the team is projected to have the second-most available cap space in the NFL.

The Falcons have 23 players set to hit free agency when the new league year begins in March. We’ve compiled a list of 10 pending free agents Atlanta should look to retain this offseason.

Watch: Falcons LB Rashaan Evans mic’d up vs. Commanders

WATCH: Falcons LB Rashaan Evans was mic’d up for Sunday’s game against the Commanders

Last season, the Atlanta Falcons won a handful of close games on their way to a 7-10 record, and while they haven’t been quite as lucky in 2022, you could argue that this is a better team.

The Falcons finished the 2021 season with a point differential of –146, which was among the worst in the NFL. This year, their point differential is significantly better at -21 with five games remaining.

Thanks to a dominant rushing attack on offense and improved play at the linebacker position, Atlanta has been competitive in almost every game this season. On Sunday, the Falcons lost to the Commanders in typical heartbreaking fashion. There were a few bright spots, though.

Linebacker Rashaan Evans led the team with 13 total tackles. The 27-year-old has been a welcome addition since signing as a free agent over the offseason. Evans was wired for sound in Week 12.

Check out the full mic’d up segment below, as shared by the team’s Twitter account.

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Vols’ alum Cordarrelle Patterson hilariously forces Falcons teammates to wear checkered overalls after bets

Patterson’s winning some bets in a very Rocky Top way!

With the way Tennessee’s been playing in college football lately — most recently knocking off perennial juggernaut Alabama — it’s understandable that some of their NFL alums might be feeling a lot of pride for their alma mater. The Falcons’ electric utility player Cordarrelle Patterson certainly seems to be one of them.

Patterson might be especially enjoying himself as a former Volunteer player this year because he seems to be making bets with some of his Atlanta teammates whenever Tennessee plays their respective school. With the Vols currently undefeated at 6-0 so far, Patterson hasn’t had to pay up from his end of the bargain.

The most recent victim of Patterson’s unique bet penance — hilariously wearing checkered overalls with Volunteer colors — was linebacker Rashaan Evans:

Amazing. What a fit. No notes.

Earlier in the year, when Patterson’s Volunteers beat the Florida Gators, that meant it was the turn of former Gators star and current Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts:

Honestly, that’s not a bad look. I might consider wearing those overalls if I didn’t go to Florida or Alabama. Kudos to Patterson for the uniquely hilarious bet punishment for his NFL teammates. At this rate, with how Tennessee is playing this year, Patterson may well get another teammate or two to wear some beautiful checkered overalls.

Secret Superstars for Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season

From Jacoby Brissett to Khalil Herbert to Christian Darrisaw to Jevon Holland, here’s Doug Farrar’s Secret Superstars for Week 3 of the NFL season.

There are all kinds of reasons that NFL players are underrated and unsung.

Perhaps they’re in systems that don’t best show their skills. Maybe they’re buried on a depth chart. Or, they’re in somebody’s doghouse, and their coaches can’t see their potential. Sometimes, young players haven’t quite put it all together, but there are enough flashes to make you sit up and take notice, and when it does work, it’s all good.

Week 3 of the 2022 regular season featured players at just about every position who showed up and showed out despite their underrated statuses, and here at Touchdown Wire, it’s our job to point them out.

Here are the Secret Superstars for Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season.

Former Alabama LB andandvoices confidence ahead of Tide’s matchup against Texas

Former Alabama linebacker and current Atlanta Falcon Rashaan Evans voiced his level on confidence in the Crimson Tide ahead of week two’s matchup versus Texas.

On Friday, former Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans voiced his confidence in the Crimson Tide ahead of their Week 2 matchup versus the Texas Longhorns. Evans currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons. He spoke with the Falcons’ social media team on how he felt about Alabama’s upcoming matchup and expressed reasoning as to why Alabama would come away victorious with his teammate Ta’Quon Graham.

Evans spent four seasons at Alabama. His path leading up to that point was unexpected as he attended Auburn High School. Ahead of his commitment, he received 11 crystal balls in favor of Auburn. However, he spurned the hometown team and elected to commit to Alabama instead.

During his career at Alabama, he was named a member of the All-SEC First Team and a First-team All-American. Both were awarded to Evans after a tremendous senior season. He recorded 74 tackles, six sacks, and 13 tackles for loss.

He has played with both the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons during his professional career. He recently signed with the Falcons to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million this offseason.

Alabama is taking on the Longhorns in a highly anticipated week two matchup. The Crimson Tide won the last matchup between the two by a final score of 37-21 in the 2010 BCS National Championship.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Evans’ professional career and other former Alabama NFL players.

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Falcons’ Dean Pees: ‘I don’t know why’ Titans let Rashaan Evans walk

Falcons DC Dean Pees isn’t sure why the Titans let Rashaan Evans walk, but he’s happy they did.

When the Tennessee Titans declined to pick up the fifth-year option of their 2018 first-round pick, Rashaan Evans, the writing was on the wall that he wasn’t long for Nashville.

The decision came after two very different seasons for Evans. In 2019, he looked to be on the rise as one of the better young linebackers in the NFL. However, Evans was very disappointing in 2020 and took a step back.

In a make-or-break year in 2021, not only did Evans not perform, he was also surpassed on the depth chart, as both he and his former starting mate, Jayon Brown, lost their roles to David Long and Zach Cunningham.

Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who oversaw Tennessee’s defense in 2019 when Evans was on the come up, was surprised the Titans allowed Evans to leave in free agency, but is glad they did.

“I don’t know why Tennessee let [Evans] go and quite frankly I don’t care, but I’m glad they did,” Pees said, via Maria Martin of 11AliveNews.

Some might take this as a shot at the Titans, but what did you expect Pees to say? That Evans was a first-round bust who didn’t deserve to remain in the two-tone blue?

Nevertheless, we would point Pees to the second and third paragraphs of this article for an explanation.

Pees saw a very different version of Evans in 2019 than the one we saw in the year after he “retired” from coaching. Perhaps a reunion with Pees is exactly what Evans needs to reignite his career.

Whatever the case may be, whether it’s because of his lackluster play and/or the Titans having better options, Tennessee was fully justified in not keeping Evans around for the long haul.

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Titans go in different direction in B/R’s 2018 NFL re-draft

In a re-do of the 2018 NFL draft, the Titans go in a different direction.

Very rarely do teams have the opportunity for a re-do, but in the 2018 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans would have gone in a different direction if they had a crystal ball.

Mike Vrabel’s ballclub selected linebacker Rashaan Evans with the No. 22 overall pick before finding a gem in the second round in outside linebacker Harold Landry.

The Titans declined Evans’ fifth-year option and the Alabama product walked in free agency, eventually signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons and thus ending what was a disappointing tenure.

According to Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport, the Titans should have selected edge rusher Marcus Davenport instead.

For the first three years of his career, that looked to have been an unwise decision—Davenport tallied just 12 sacks over his first three seasons combined. But despite missing six games last year, Davenport turned in his best season as a pro, setting career highs in tackles (39) and sacks (nine).

With the selection of Davenport at the end of the first round, Tennessee likely would have addressed other needs instead of taking Landry in the second round.

Speaking of Landry, he went to the Green Bay Packers with the No. 14 overall pick in this re-draft.

Interestingly, Davenport has had a similar track record as Landry through his first four seasons. After a sophomore campaign that saw him achieve several career-highs, the former UTSA star regressed considerably in Year 3 before exploding for nine sacks in 2021.

Landry, who collected a then-career-best nine sacks in 2019, tallied just 5.5 sacks in 2020 before racking up 12 sacks this past season.

Davenport is entering the final year of his contract in 2022, while the Titans have already committed five years and $87.5 million to Landry in a second contract.

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