With the Atlanta Falcons already out of playoff contention, their Week 17 bout against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will finally end a tumultuous 2020 season. Sunday’s game could also be the final time we see a number of players wearing a Falcons uniform.
Whether their contracts are coming to an end or they’re released as a way to clear cap space, Atlanta will have no choice but to make some tough decisions when it comes to signing players this offseason.
Notable players set to become free agents
• K Younghoe Koo
• C Alex Mack
• S Keanu Neal
• CB Darqueze Dennard
• RB Todd Gurley
• RB Brian Hill
• DE Steven Means
• DL Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
• TE Luke Stocker
• OL Matt Gono
Given the list of notable players whose contracts are set to expire, there aren’t many the Falcons can realistically bring back. Retaining kicker Younghoe Koo and safety Keanu Neal will likely be the team’s highest priorities.
However, given the lack of cap space, even after cuts, it may be unlikely to see both of them return. If the Falcons had to choose one, you would have to believe the team would side with Koo given his success in 2020.
Atlanta could still potentially bring back rotational pieces like DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner and DE Steven Means to fill out the roster, which currently sits at 31 players for 2021.
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Notable players who may be cut to clear cap space
With the Falcons currently in the negative by $24 million, moves will have to be made to get them out of the red. Not only will Atlanta be forced to cut some players, the team will have to restructure certain contracts in order to put a complete roster together.
• S Ricardo Allen – frees $6.25 million
• OL James Carpenter – frees $4.04 million
• DL Allen Bailey – frees $4.5 million
• DL Tyeler Davison – frees $2.2 million
Ricardo Allen has missed four games in 2020 with different injuries, while James Carpenter has sat out of three. Both defensive linemen Allen Bailey and Tyeler Davison are rotational pieces for the Falcons. These four are the most likely to be cut and could save the team $16 million in cap space.
With Dante Fowler challenging Ray Edwards as the worst free-agent signing in franchise history, the Falcons may be inclined to eat his $15.3 million in dead money and hang on to his $3 million in savings. This would clear nearly $20 million in cap space, almost getting Atlanta out of trouble.
If the Falcons were to move on from Allen and Neal, the team would be extra thin at safety next season. Damontae Kazee and Sharrod Neasman will see their contracts end in the offseason as well. Atlanta will have second-year safety Jaylinn Hawkins returning, but the potential losses will make the position a key priority in the 2021 NFL draft.
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