NFL Free Agency: 5 teams that could sign Chris Long

If there is one team in the NFL that struggles to get after the quarterback with their pass rush, it’s the Atlanta Falcons. Not even defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn could improve the Falcons’ toothless pass rush in 2015 with his highly successful 4-3 Under Base scheme, as Atlanta finished dead last in the NFL with only 19 quarterback sacks.

Given that the Falcons need a huge overhaul in their defensive front seven to make their good defensive backfield great, Quinn may look at former St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long as a situational pass rusher in 2016. Quinn coached against Long in Seattle from 2012 to 2014 as part of Pete Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks staff. He probably saw somethings out of Long he believes he can get out of the former No. 2 overall pick out of Virginia with a full bill of health and put in the right situation.

Quinn’s 4-3 Under Base is somewhat of a hybrid defensive alignment as it is a 4-3 that in a way plays like a 3-4 because of its shifted nature up front because of the outside linebacker/defensive role known as the LEO. Long could serve as a terrific mentor to the Falcons’ franchise pass rusher at the LEO in Vic Beasley, the No. 8 overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Clemson University.

Should Long sign with the Falcons, that would mean that the top three picks in the 2008 NFL Draft would now all be on the same team, as former No. 1 overall pick offensive tackle Jake Long joined the No. 3 overall pick in starting quarterback Matt Ryan last summer. The Longs played together in St. Louis in 2013-14 and may again meet up in Flowery Branch should Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff think that Long can help Atlanta improve their league-worst pass rush entering 2016.