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Why Falcons don't need Lamar Jackson to make a splash this offseason


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Why Falcons don't need Lamar Jackson to make a splash this offseason (msn.com)

Why Falcons don't need Lamar Jackson to make a splash this offseason

Story by Garrett Chapman  6h ago
 
Lamar Jackson is officially a free agent -- sort of -- and the Atlanta Falcons have already made it known that they are not interested in the former MVP.

The announcement came as a bit of a surprise, but Abe Gordon believes the team can still make a splash this offseason despite not pursuing the biggest fish on the market.

"If you're not going to spend this free agent money, your salary cap space, on Lamar Jackson," Abe explained on Sunday morning. "I fully support it, but with one caveat: you better go out into the market when free agency and the legal tampering period opens up tomorrow [and] you had better go get someone that's a difference-maker."

At just under $65 million, the Atlanta Falcons have the second-largest amount of available cap space to spend. They started that earlier this week with their extension of Lorenzo Carter, but they still figure to be a major player as free agency begins to heat up.

The cap situation sets up well for the Falcons, as they are a team with serious needs that need to be addressed.

"If you're not going to spend a gazillion dollars guaranteed on Lamar Jackson, you better bring me someone and someone who's impactful," Abe continued. "You better find a legitimate free agent to rush the passer. You better find a guy that shores up the secondary. You better find a guy to replace Kaleb McGary."

There have been some fortuitous cap casualties elsewhere in the NFL that the team could target as soon as Monday.

"There are plenty of big names on both lines that are entering into free agency as it may be," Abe said about the free agent class. "Orlando Brown Junior is top of the heap, right? Like Donovan Smith, a little bit beneath him and you’ve got guys like the [Javon] Hargrave on the defensive line, Frank Clark on the defensive line. I mean, you gotta be bringing some of these guys in. There’s a lot of talk about Jesse Bates and that's fine, I like that, but he can't be the biggest free agent you sign."

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Totally disagree with this article. You don’t need a big splash player to make a difference. You need to fix needs, multiple need to make a difference. What if we in FA got 2 DT 1 DE 1 LB 1 S 1 CB 1OT 1QB 

So in FA we just improved every level of the Defense. Replaced our RT or maybe resigned McGary and got a backup QB, or a QB that will push Ridder. 
Then think what we can do in the draft get a #2WR on the cheep. And more pass rush get another RB get depth in the trenches.

We might get a big name but if we don’t that’s ok too. Two ways this can go. Not just one

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This biggest thing is, you need to get somebody in here that create some kind of buzz that you'll actually be a playoff team in 23. The casual fan isn't going to pay much attention if we just bring in a bunch of mid-to-low level FAs. If you look like you're just plodding along, those fans will just bide their time and wait for the Braves latest WS run, or UGA's attempt at a 3-peat. 

The biggest thing I'm looking for his offseason is a return to relevance.  We'll see. 

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1 hour ago, ItsJustMe said:

To me Bates would be a splash, I'm not greedy. Add more than that then I'm copecetic.

The Browns just shifted Watson's money around & created an additional $36M in cap space this year. They have also been rumored to be a player for Jessie Bates, so that kinda sucks for us since it'll likely drive up the price even more. Hopefully someone like CGJ can be in the fold as a backup plan if Bates chases bigger money offered by Cleveland.

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if Falcons signed Lamar Jackson to an offer sheet on the first day allowed - Wednesday 3/15 - Ravens would have 5 days to match.   Falcons would have to sit on their hands the first 5 days of free agency to see if Ravens decided to match - and we all know they would - meanwhile,  40-50 Free agents will have signed by the end of the 5 days.

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18 minutes ago, k-train said:

The Browns just shifted Watson's money around & created an additional $36M in cap space this year. They have also been rumored to be a player for Jessie Bates, so that kinda sucks for us since it'll likely drive up the price even more. Hopefully someone like CGJ can be in the fold as a backup plan if Bates chases bigger money offered by Cleveland.

That would be a good fall back plan 

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2 hours ago, thanat0s said:

This biggest thing is, you need to get somebody in here that create some kind of buzz that you'll actually be a playoff team in 23. The casual fan isn't going to pay much attention if we just bring in a bunch of mid-to-low level FAs. If you look like you're just plodding along, those fans will just bide their time and wait for the Braves latest WS run, or UGA's attempt at a 3-peat. 

The biggest thing I'm looking for his offseason is a return to relevance.  We'll see. 

Blank just screamed "YESSSSS!" to your comment. This team needs to have somebody the fans can not only cheer for on Sundays, but to rave about at the water cooler during the week. In fact as low as this franchise has sunk, they actually need two of those buzz bodies, one on offense and one on defense.

Now we've already got a few budding buzz players on offense with London, Pitts and Allgeier, but got to get some more buzz to help out Grady. We will not be closing out FA without at least two Buzz players, Ima guarantee it. 😉

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I literally could not care less about buzz.  Give me guys who can win.  Winning games is what creates buzz.  No need to try to win the presser.

If you can do both, more's the better.  For me, Bates and a solid DT are the splash plays here, with WR2 being high on my list as well. But I don't care WHO it is -- get help in the secondary and defensive front 7 and a WR2 in free agency and I'm good with whatever else is done.

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1 hour ago, g-dawg said:

if Falcons signed Lamar Jackson to an offer sheet on the first day allowed - Wednesday 3/15 - Ravens would have 5 days to match.   Falcons would have to sit on their hands the first 5 days of free agency to see if Ravens decided to match - and we all know they would - meanwhile,  40-50 Free agents will have signed by the end of the 5 days.

Yep. I don't see us being interested unless he is still available after the draft. I could see us throwing a 2024 and 2025 1st without question. by then you already have assembled the majority of your team. 

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3 minutes ago, PriMeTiiMe said:

Yep. I don't see us being interested unless he is still available after the draft. I could see us throwing a 2024 and 2025 1st without question. by then you already have assembled the majority of your team. 

yeah, I tend to agree....Falcons will proceed w/o moving for Lamar Jackson and will revisit on May 3rd if he is still available and the Ravens haven't re-signed him by then.

My guess is by then Lamar will either have retained an agent or become more realistic on what he can get and make the best deal he can w/ the Ravens.

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