Fansided

Atlanta Falcons: 5 offseason needs

By John Buhler

Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Taylor Gabriel (18) scores on a 64-yard catch in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Taylor Gabriel (18) scores on a 64-yard catch in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Oct 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme (83) leaves the game with an injury against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme (83) leaves the game with an injury against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

4. No. 2/blocking tight end

Atlanta may have found something potentially special in tight end Austin Hooper in the 2016 NFL Draft, but the Falcons will need to at minimum to keep a No. 2 tight end that can either make great catches on third down or factor in pass protection.

The Falcons have two of their three rotational tight ends hitting free agency: Jacob Tamme and Levine Toilolo. Tamme suffered a season-ending injury against the Green Bay Packers during the regular season. He has long been a solid No. 2 pass-catching tight end in the NFL, but do the Falcons already have that covered in Hooper? Could they go cheaper and still be as effective?

Toilolo had his best season as a professional in his fourth-season out of Stanford. While he has never been the go-to guy in the red zone like Atlanta hoped he would be, Toilolo has proven to be a great blocker and a decent receiving threat between the hash marks.

Expect Atlanta to retain one, if not both of them. If the Falcons let one of their free agent tight ends walk, they can land one on the cheap in free agency or draft one in the deep 2017 NFL Draft. Tight end is widely considered to be the best the position group has ever offered in a particular draft.

Home/Atlanta Falcons