ESPN’s Bill Barnwell hands out Falcons offseason grade
The Atlanta Falcons were the most productive team of the offseason, especially in free agency. But they haven’t exactly been one of the teams that experts have been raving about from free agency to the present.
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Despite adding a talented wideout in Mohamed Sanu, an elite center in Alex Mack, plus pass-rushers Sean Weatherspoon, Derrick Shelby and Courtney Upshaw, it’s been difficult finding anyone who praised the Falcons overall offseason.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently handed out his grades to each NFC South team, but the Falcons did not get a very good grade. He only game them a C+, believing they didn’t add enough pass-rushing talent and acknowledging they overpaid Sanu.
He did praise their addition of Mack and the re-signing of sensation Adrian Clayborn, however:
” Mack also has experience in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s scheme from their time in Cleveland, which should make for a smoother transition than most new contributors.
…The Falcons re-signed him (Clayborn) on a very reasonable two-year, $8.5 million deal with $5 million more available in incentives. That’s a contract that should benefit both sides.”
It was interesting that Barnwell noted he thinks they didn’t do enough to address the pass-rush. Upshaw isn’t a Pro Bowler by any means, but Weatherspoon and Shelby will automatically upgrade it. After looking at guys like Albert Haynesworth and Ndamukong Suh get over $100 million and not producing, it made sense for Atlanta to avoid overpaying a pass-rusher.
As for overpaying Sanu? There’s no doubt his five-year, $32.5 million deal is too much for a guy who hasn’t come close to a 1,000-yard season, but that’s the money it took for Atlanta to land a player to complement Julio Jones. They had to pony up a lot of dough to get him.
The Falcons addressed their main weaknesses, adding Austin Hooper as a tight end as well. Their grade should be closer to a B-.
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