Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
7 free agents who could help the Falcons stay in first place over the second half of the season.
It’s been a few years since the Atlanta Falcons (4-4) led the NFC South this late in the season. With nine games remaining and $9.45 million in salary cap space available, the Falcons could look to sign a free agent or two to bolster their roster for a possible playoff run.
There are some big names and a few quality depth options still on the market. Here are seven potential free-agent targets who could help Atlanta stay atop the division.
The Atlanta Falcons worked out veteran LB Will Compton, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
The Atlanta Falcons worked out veteran linebacker Will Compton, ESPN’s Field Yates reported on Tuesday afternoon. Compton, 33, has played for three teams over his nine-year NFL career, including two seasons with the Tennessee Titans (2018 and 2020).
According to Yates, the Falcons aren’t expected to sign Compton right now, but he could be a late-season target if the team is fighting for a playoff spot.
Coveted part-time LB and podcaster @_willcompton had a very good workout with the Falcons, I’m told. It’s sounding like a deal with Atlanta is not expected to get done right now, but a possible signing later in the season for a playoff push remains very likely.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 4, 2022
Compton has played in 92 career games (40 starts) since entering the league in 2013. Over those nine seasons, he’s totaled 358 tackles (210 solo), three interceptions, four forced fumbles and 12 passes defended.
His best season came in 2016 when he started 15 games for Washington. Compton played in two games for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
[lawrence-related id=102806,102836,102697,102776]
[vertical-gallery id=102804]
Former Titans LB Will Compton will get a look from the Falcons on Tuesday.
“Year 10” is on the verge of going from a catchy punchline often heard on the ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’ podcast into a possible reality for former Tennessee Titans linebacker and social media sensation, Will Compton.
Yesterday afternoon, the podcast extraordinaire broke the news that he has an upcoming workout scheduled with the Atlanta Falcons later today.
The veteran linebacker has hilariously teased this inevitable workout for weeks now in the most Will Compton way possible (warning: NSFW language).
This move makes sense for a variety of reasons.
For starters, Compton’s resume has proven that he’s versatile and cerebral enough to contribute wherever he’s needed, regardless if that’s on defense and/or special teams.
He also has relatively recent experience with the Falcons’ current Head Coach, Arthur Smith, and current defensive coordinator, Dean Pees.
I want to get out in front of this before anyone breaks the news.
I have a workout with the Atlanta Falcons tomorrow.
They’ve went 2-0 since they reached out 2 weeks ago.
It’d be a mistake to let me walk out of that door tomorrow.
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) October 3, 2022
Anti-inflammatories & caffein has me feeling like a high schooler ready to earn a scholarship. Feeling 25 again.
The back is back. pic.twitter.com/sejeFWq1u8
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) September 28, 2022
The 10th-year hopeful had two stints in Tennessee, where he admittedly grew fond of both coaches. Back in 2018, Pees was the defensive coordinator for the Titans, while Compton was primarily a core special teams player who occasionally contributed on defense as well.
In total, Compton accounted for 16 tackles, one pass defended, and one forced fumble in 12 games.
Smith, on the other hand, was with Compton for both stints in Tennessee. The Falcons head coach was the Titans’ tight ends coach back in 2018 before being promoted to offensive coordinator from 2019-2020.
Although the former Titan never played for any of Smith’s units, the two grew a mutual respect towards one another, and so much so that Smith has already been on the infamous bus on two separate occasions.
“Year 10” seems to be trending in the right direction for the Nebraska product. However, only time will tell whether this workout ends up translating into a contract offer or not.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyh7crnrcs3ypf player_id=none image=https://titanswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
[lawrence-related id=98186,98188,98078]
[listicle id=98153]
Vrabel has now shredded Compton on Twitter twice in the span of a month.
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel doesn’t tweet very much, but rest assured he is watching the old timeline, as well as his notifications — and former Titans linebacker Will Compton keeps finding that out the hard way.
Compton, who recently became a dad, once again asked for it by tagging Vrabel in a tweet on Sunday where he recited one of his favorite Vrabel quotes from his time in Nashville: “The great ones make it look easy.”
It took Vrabel all of 12 minutes to hop on and roast Compton, which has become a common occurrence over the years.
“I hope you didn’t think I was talking about you when I said that,” Vrabel tweeted.
I hope you didn’t think I was talking about you when I said that. https://t.co/1Pxpc5r4is
— Mike Vrabel (@CoachVrabel50) April 10, 2022
Last month, Compton jokingly told a story that also got him shredded by the Titans head coach. Two of Vrabel’s last three tweets are shots at Compton, and if he keeps this up he’ll be flirting with borderline troll account status.
[lawrence-related id=86838,86827,86822]
[listicle id=86811]
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel took time out of his Sunday night to roast Will Compton.
When it comes to dealing with his left tackle, Taylor Lewan, and former linebacker, Will Compton, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel takes no prisoners with the buddies and “Bussin’ With The Boys” co-hosts.
Vrabel’s relationship with the pair on and off the field is pure entertainment, as the head coach routinely shreds them whenever he gets the opportunity — and Vrabel got that opportunity on Sunday night with Compton.
In the wake of the controversy surrounding the on-field reaction to 2022 NFL draft prospect David Ojabo tearing his Achilles at his pro day, Compton jokingly told a story on Twitter.
“A story about being a commodity,” Compton tweeted. “One time I got hurt during practice & (Vrabel) didn’t even move the drill up. He just ran the next play while I was still on the ground & yelled ‘we don’t have time for this — can someone who’s not a (expletive) get in there??’ Had a broken leg.”
Compton picked the wrong night, because it appears Vrabes was scrolling the old timeline, and within 25 minutes the Titans head coach tweeted out what amounts to a savage roasting of his former player.
Hello, 9-1-1? I’d like to report a murder.
Compton responded to Vrabel’s roasting of him in a video shortly after, but warning: it contains naughty language.
[pickup_prop id=”20767″]
[lawrence-related id=85779,85766,85755]
[listicle id=85736]
Wright recalled his 2021 offseason, in which he went months without receiving a single call from an NFL team
Long-time former Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright recently sat down with fellow Raiders LB Will Compton on his podcast to discuss his career in the Emerald City and his current relationship with the Seahawks organization. Wright recalled his 2021 offseason, in which he went months without receiving a single call from an NFL team before he eventually signed a one-year contract with Las Vegas. He found this perplexing, as he turned in a solid 2020 season at age 31.
“Yeah so, I put together a very, very… in my eyes, a Ring of Honor career. . . I just did, got the Super Bowls, got the Pro Bowls, almost got 1,000 tackles in Seattle… I’m, like, seven, eight away. I just had a stellar career. Cracked the [NFL] Top 100 for the first time, No. 67. But if you look at that list, I’m the only guy that was a free agent. I’m like, ‘How the hell did I put together this really good career, first of all, put together this really good year 10 and don’t nobody want me?'”
When Compton pressed Wright about the possibility of returning to the Seahawks, Wright revealed he had discussions with coach Pete Carroll about the situation he would find himself in if he returned, as they had young linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Cody Barton waiting in the wings.
“When it came down to sign with the Raiders, I called Pete. I said, ‘Pete, I’ve got this offer on the table, I really don’t want to leave. I don’t want to leave, I want to stay in Seattle. Is there anything we can do? I’ll take a lesser role, I understand you want to play Jordyn, I’ll come off the field. What can we do so I stay in Seattle?’ He’s like, ‘Ah KJ, I hate this. Let me talk to [general manager] John [Schneider] and let’s see if we can get something done.'”
Ultimately, it seemed like the Seahawks were confident enough in their future at the linebacker position to refrain from giving Wright what he wanted in regards to money, even though he told Compton he would have accepted being in a reduced role in 2021.
“…I gave the city everything I had. I gave these people every ounce in my body, and some stuff just doesn’t make sense, organization-wise, like, how and why do you let me leave the building when I’m willing to take a lesser role, when I’m willing to still give you all that I got? Like, why? It don’t make sense to me, especially when I extend the olive branch in saying: ‘Can we work something out?'”
Regardless of Wright’s feelings toward the organization, he will be remembered fondly in Seahawks history as an underrated component of the team’s run of success over the past decade by fans and former teammates alike.
[lawrence-related id=84534]
[listicle id=84539]
Will Compton taunted the Browns and the NFL for moving the game. Now he’s sitting out for personal reasons.
The Las Vegas Raiders will be without linebacker Will Compton for Monday afternoon’s matchup with the Browns in Cleveland. The Raiders are holding out the veteran backup for personal reasons, not injury-related. It’s a deliciously ironic twist of fate for Compton.
Compton was one of the most vocal Raiders in complaining about the postponement of the game from Saturday to Monday. He has only been with the Raiders for one week, signing on December 11th and appearing strictly on special teams in Las Vegas’ 48-9 loss to the Chiefs in Week 14.
As the popular meme theme goes, a story in two acts:
.@Raiders Raiders LB Will Compton (Not injury related – personal) has been declared out for today’s game at Cleveland.
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) December 20, 2021
Earlier on Monday, the Raiders lost top CB Nate Hobbs after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Raiders sign LB Will Compton off practice squad, elevate three others
Just four days ago, Will Compton was signed onto the Raiders practice squad. And Saturday the team signed him to the active roster, meaning he figures to on the field for the team Sunday when they face the Chiefs in Kansas City.
Compton’s addition is vital at the moment due to the injuries to linebackers Denzel Perryman, Nick Kwiatkoski, and Patrick Onwuasor.
The veteran linebacker Compton appeared in nine games with the Raiders in 2019 where he started at middle linebacker for four games and was a key special teams contributor under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia.
“I know he understands the special teams system for sure, and he did play last year,” Bisaccia said on Wednesday. “So, I’ve been staying in touch with him as well as other guys that we kind of keep our eyes on as you go through these situations, and we felt the need for him to come in. . . Will is a MIKE linebacker by trade, so it gives us a guy that can learn the system that way. But I know he can play on special teams for us, and he ran around pretty good out there today.”
Also seeing an elevation from the practice squad for Sunday’s game were LB Javin White, WR Tyron Johnson, and RB Trey Ragas.
White obviously helps with the depth at linebacker. Running back also has depth issues with Kenyan Drake lost for the year and Jalen Richard once again on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
This will be Compton’s second stint with the Raiders.
I am signing with the Raiders, per source
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) December 7, 2021
The Boy is back in the NFL, as former Tennessee Titans linebacker Will Compton announced he is set to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Compton, who has yet to suit up for a team this season, will have his second stint with the Raiders after playing for them in 2019. That season, Compton played in nine games (four starts), totaling 41 tackles.
The 32-year-old spent the 2020 campaign with the Titans, spending time on both the practice squad and active roster. He tallied 18 tackles in 12 games (one start).
“Thank you everyone for the love. I feel like I’m living in a simulation getting to play for the Silver & Black again,” Compton tweeted. “However long this lasts let’s f***ing enjoy it (can’t curse I’m a professional now).”
An undrafted free agent out of Nebraska, this will be Compton’s ninth season in the NFL. The linebacker spent the first five seasons of his career with the Washington Football Team.
[lawrence-related id=78665,78653,78646]
[listicle id=78659]
LB Will Compton says he’s signed back with the Raiders
No, this isn’t a two-year-old post. Linebacker Will Compton is signing with the Raiders. Or at least he’s saying he is.
I am signing with the Raiders, per source
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) December 7, 2021
Compton was a midseason addition to the Raiders in 2019, spending the final nine games of that season on the team, starting four games. He spent the 2020 season with the Titans, appearing in 12 games.
This year, he spent most of his time on his podcast Bussin With the Boys.
It was on that podcast, that he opened up about how complicated things were under Raiders former defensive coordinator, Paul Guenther. He also described what he sees as the right qualities in a DC, which seem to describe Gus Bradley pretty well.
“I am not a coach. But being around football for a very long time what you want to see in a coach is somebody who can coach, who can teach, who can teach game plans and who can help players understand why you’re building a scheme in the first place for game planning,” said Compton. “You want to be able to inspire your athletes. You want to be relatable to guys. You want to be optimistic. You want to be somebody to go in and you know is going to have a good attitude because you’re all going to figure it out together.”
Just as when he was added to the team two years ago, the Raiders are suddenly very banged up at the linebacker spot. Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia mentioned four of the team’s linebackers who are currently day-to-day with injuries, including starters Denzel Perryman and Cory Littleton. While 2020 starter Nicholas Morrow has yet to see the field this season from an injury he suffered in training camp.
Welcome back, Will.
