Atlanta Falcons: 5 offseason needs

Defensive Line

This might be the most telling of all position groups for the Falcons this offseason. The defensive line is head coach Dan Quinn’s speciality, but he could be losing two to three key pieces from it in free agency. It feels like defensive tackle Dontari Poe was on a one-year deal with the Falcons anyway. Atlanta doesn’t have the cap space to bring him back on an $8 million deal like he made last season. If Poe wants money and longevity, it won’t be in Atlanta.

Another player that will be hitting free agency from the Atlanta defensive line is recently converted linebacker Courtney Upshaw. Upshaw bulked up to play defensive tackle for Quinn and did a decent job at it. He won’t stand to make a ton of money this spring, as he might be viewed as an experimental player for the Falcons on the open market. There’s a good chance he’ll be back in 2018.

Then there’s the case of defensive end Adrian Clayborn. Clayborn had his best season as a professional with 9.5 quarterback sacks. Yes, six of them came against Das Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, but Clayborn seems to have filled a need in the defensive line rotation for Atlanta. Technically sound and with his injury-riddled past behind him, Clayborn could stand to make a bit of coin this spring. It will be interesting to see what the markets bares for Clayborn. Can Atlanta afford him though?

Expect the Falcons to use one of their earlier draft selections on a defensive lineman. Quinn has hit on guys like Vic Beasley, Grady Jarrett and Takkarist McKinley so far. Atlanta can’t afford both Clayborn and Poe. Bringing back maybe one of them will be a challenge, but Quinn knows what he’s looking at in the draft. Expect he and general manager Thomas Dimitroff to prioritize that position in the draft in Dallas.