The Falcons are closer to having an assembled offense, but there are intriguing free agents and needs to still take a swing at.
As we’ve said repeatedly this spring, the Atlanta Falcons need to focus most of their efforts on their mediocre defense. To this point, that’s largely what they’ve done, with their three biggest signings (Leonard Floyd, Divine Deablo, and Mike Hughes) all coming on that side of the ball. That should continue, and we will be looking at appealing free agents still out there for whenever the Falcons find a way to carve out some more 2025 cap space.
All that said, the offense is not without its warts. The team is set to be heavily reliant on Ray-Ray McCloud as their third receiver with no clear, high-end fourth option, they need to upgrade on Ross Dwelley’s 2024 nothingburger as the team’s third tight end, and most importantly, they need to add a starter or at least veteran competition at center. If the team finds an avenue to a little more cap space—something I know is not exactly a given—one or two of those needs should be addressed, and center more or less has to be.
With that in mind, here are a few free agents the team ought to take a look at, with a bonus player if the Falcons move Kirk Cousins.
C Garrett Bradbury
You know what you’re getting in Bradbury, and it’s basically Drew Dalman Lite. Bradbury is a better run blocker than a pass protector, like Dalman, but last season he wasn’t close to as good at either of those things as Dalman was. His track record is better than those 2024 results, however, and Dalman’s decent work in pass protection in 2024 was an outlier in his career. Chances are that Bradbury would be a small upgrade on Dalman in terms of his pass pro while not offering the same caliber of run blocking acumen, which is no great surprise given that Dalman was a true standout in that regard.
Basically, Bradbury is a durable, low-end starter who has had enough solid seasons in the past to think he could step in and do a credible job as the team’s center in 2025 and perhaps 2026. The team would sign him expecting him to assume the job over incumbents Ryan Neuzil and Jovaughn Gwyn, and know full well that it’s unlikely he’ll suddenly morph into a great center. When you have the rest of your line set and competence and the ability to avoid injury thus seem very appealing, Bradbury seems like a good fit.
C David Andrews
This isn’t the Andrews as he was at the height of the Patriots dynasty, when he was consistently one of the best centers in the league. His pass protection hasn’t been as sharp in recent years and Andrews is both on the wrong side of 30 and coming off an injury that cost him all but four games in 2024. You’d be hard pressed to argue he’s going to solve the team’s center need for 2025, let alone the next couple of seasons.
But as a potential stopgap starter at best and competition for Ryan Neuzil at worst, Andrews offers considerable appeal. His run blocking is still quite good and he has a track record of being a better option in pass protection than either Drew Dalman or Neuzil, even if there has been slippage there. His experience and leadership skills, often vaunted by Patriots coaches and beat writers alike, would be welcome for this offense. And because he’s older and coming off an injury, a short-term pact that costs less than his usual standard seems within reach.
If the team doesn’t want to commit to a multi-year solution at center and don’t like this draft class at the position, Andrews makes a lot of sense. I will note that I wasn’t aware that he had failed a physical a short time ago; he may not be good to go for a bit and that does add risk to this signing.
TE Eric Saubert
The Falcons have a third tight end vacancy Nikola Kalinic may or may not be able to fill. Why not turn to an old friend to add competition?
Saubert was originally a Falcons draft pick, and he’s bounced around in the meantime while carving out a role as…well, a capable third tight end. He’s a sure-handed if infrequently used target, a capable enough blocker, and a willing special teamer who would be an upgrade over Ross Dwelley, the team’s third option in 2024. Competition with the more receiving-friendly Kalinic would allow the Falcons to potentially keep the loser of the competition as practice squad insurance, too.
WR Keenan Allen
Coming off arguably the worst season of his career and heading into his age 33 season, Allen isn’t enjoying the same robust market he commanded last offseason. If there’s a chance to get him signed to a two-year pact with some creative structuring to limit the 2025 damage, Allen would add an established high-end route runner with significant slot experience (he played about 55% of snaps there for the Bears last year and over 60% in 2022 and 2021 with the Chargers) to a receiving corps that would attain a new level of dominance for Penix.
Is this a hugely necessary signing with McCloud as a fine #3 option and much bigger needs elsewhere? No. If Allen lingers on the market and the Falcons have a chance to make their offense even more dominant to help mask a lagging defense, should they try? Yes.
WR David Moore
The Falcons are (depressingly, once again) on a budget, so we need to look at quality budget options. The Falcons could do far worse than Moore to add experienced, well-rounded veteran help to a receiving corps light on that beyond their top three guys.
Basically, Moore would be a smart addition to allow the Falcons to kick Drake London into the slot, where he’s a very dangerous player. He’s never been a particularly prolific receiving option, but as a player who is solid in pass protection and run blocking while producing 351 yards and three touchdowns on 32 catches last year, Moore could split time with Ray-Ray McCloud and work opposite Darnell Mooney when the Falcons want London in the slot. He’s also a capable special teamer who has some punt return experience, allowing him to fill a few different niches.
WR Brandon Powell
Powell isn’t much of a kick returner—we remember his tenure in Atlanta in that regard—but he is a rock solid punt returner with enough speed to occasionally do fun things on offense. If you hadn’t gathered by this list, my concern with the Falcons’ receiving corps is all about what happens if a starter gets injured and the Falcons have to lean on their inexperienced depth; signing someone like Powell helps less than Allen or Moore but does give the team a proven returner who can chip in on offense.
The next one is conditional on the Falcons trading Kirk Cousins, of course.
QB Teddy Bridgewater
I’m an avowed Bridgewater fan. He doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he’s always been an accurate, smart passer who does a nice job of avoiding major mistakes. His best years are behind him, but Bridgewater is hoping to mount something of a comeback, and having him as a veteran mentor for Michael Penix and capable steward of a weapon-dense offense should something happen makes a ton of sense in an otherwise pretty barren free agency backup market. If Cousins is moved sooner than later, I’d like to see the Falcons at least entertain bringing him in.