Atlanta adds a veteran fresh off an 8.5 sack season to their EDGE group.
THEY DID IT.
(He has the same risks as Matt Judon and shouldn’t be viewed as a savior).
THEY SIGNED AN EDGE RUSHER.
Leonard Floyd has returned home to the state of Georgia to take on the daunting task of fixing the Atlanta Falcons pass rush.
Homecoming: The #Falcons are signing pass-rusher Leonard Floyd, formerly of the #49ers, sources say. He gets a 1-year deal worth $10M, earning a raise after his SF release.
Floyd is UGA product and Chauncey, Ga., native. Deal done by Todd France of @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/kOuvHIcc2K
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2025
When Floyd was released earlier today, he made too much sense for the Falcons. He has the Raheem connection (Floyd played for him in LA when Morris was the defensive coordinator) and the Georgia connection (native and went to UGA). He can execute the sim pressures Morris likes to run and would fill a defined role, and he has at least eight sacks in each of the past five seasons.
That being said, he possesses the same risks as signing Matt Judon or any EDGE at this stage of their NFL career. He’s 32, his best playing years are behind him, and he can’t carry a pass rush. Floyd is a solid depth who will take on essential snaps, but he needs to be featured in a rotation. His body has a lot of mileage, and he’s at the point in his career where EDGE production typically falls off a cliff. If Atlanta can add others and use him as a third or fourth man, fans can feel more comfortable about this move.
However, the $10M price tag isn’t cheap and suggests that Atlanta plans on squeezing every last drop out of Floyd. This move won’t fix the pass rush on its own, but it at least adds a proven veteran to a room, one that can execute the playbook. Baby steps, I suppose.