Falcons won't re-sign Vic Beasley, pushing him into free agency
The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday they will not pursue negotiations with outside linebacker Vic Beasley, who will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
“As we continue to craft our 2020 roster, we'd like to thank Vic for five years of effort on behalf of our organization," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said.
If there’s any doubt as to the validity of the news, look no further than the Falcons re-affirming it on Twitter. Again.
Literally us. The Falcons.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) February 3, 2020
The new league year beings March 18. Beasley was the team’s eighth overall pick in the 2015 draft and finished the $12.8 million fifth-year option on his rookie deal this past December.
Beasley, 27, led the league in sacks with 15.5 in 2016. Atlanta made it to the Super Bowl that season. But he never came close to that total again, notching five each in 2017 and 2018 while he started 17 games combined out of 30.
In 2019, he finished with eight sacks and 6.5 of those came in the second half of the year. The Falcons had the second-fewest sacks as a team last season with 28, and all but seven of them came in the second half.
For his 60-game career, Beasley has 156 tackles, 37.5 sacks, 37 tackles, and 11 forced fumbles and two touchdowns.
Takk McKinley will hold down the defense with defensive end Adrian Clayborn and defensive tackle Jack Crawford also about to become free agents.
The Falcons, under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, will focus on bolstering its pass rush in free agency or in the draft next. They hold the No. 16 pick in the first round and have three picks in the first two rounds.
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