One offseason move each NFL team must make

Atlanta Falcons- Re-Sign DT Grady Jarrett

Due in part to a myriad of injuries, the Falcons finished 25th or worse against the pass (259.6 yards per game; 27th), against the run (124.9 yards per game; 25th), in total defense (384.5 yards per game; 28th) and in scoring defense (26.4 points per game; 25th) during the 2018 season.

But Jarrett was a clear bright spot, with six sacks (second on the team) and a team-leading eight tackles for loss as Pro Football Focus graded him top-10 among qualifying interior defensive lineman both as a pass rusher (fifth) and a run defender (eighth). He has earned a top-10 grade from PFF as a run defender in two straight years now, but it’s his progress and prowess as a pass rusher that will really get him paid come March.

As expected, Falcons’ general manager Thomas Dimitroff said getting Jarrett signed is a priority.

"We would like to have Grady back for many years to come,"

Here’s PFF’s 2018 evaluation of Jarrett as a pass rusher (with rankings among interior defensive lineman).

"Jarrett finished the regular season ranked fourth in pass-rush win percentage (16.6) and sixth in pressure percentage (12.3), recording 71 pass-rush wins and 53 total pressures in the process. His pass-rush ability on third down was particularly impressive, as he recorded the third-ranked win percentage (21.8) and second-ranked pass-rush grade (90.1) on third downs throughout the regular season."

Where Jarrett stands on a possible return to Atlanta will become clear soon, and the Falcons could just franchise tag him. But a long-term deal is surely a priority for both sides, and Atlanta needs its man in the middle to help foster a turnaround defensively next season.