Fansided

NFL free agency 2019: Grades for every team

By Kevin Parvizi

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants yells prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants yells prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 11: New York Jets offensive guard James Carpenter (77) during the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills on November 11, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 11: New York Jets offensive guard James Carpenter (77) during the National Football League game between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills on November 11, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Atlanta Falcons

Key Additions: OG James Carpenter, OG Jamon Brown

Key Departures: CB Robert Alford, RB Tevin Coleman, EDGE Bruce Irvin, CB Justin Bethel, RT Ryan Schraeder, EDGE Brooks Reed

Grade: C

It’s difficult to give the Atlanta Falcons a strong grade in either direction, because they were largely expected to lose several notable names without being active in free agency. They were perhaps the most passive team in the NFC South, but the Falcons are still contenders in the division, especially with shakeups on the coaching staff and a jaw-dropping group of pass-catchers around star quarterback Matt Ryan.

The Falcons did help Ryan out in free agency, too, by signing two new starting guards in Jamon Brown and James Carpenter. Both men qualify as significant upgrades, and they help Atlanta rank as one of the league’s most complete starting fives on the line with Ty Sambrailo and Jake Mathews bookending a group that includes superstar Alex Mack at center.

Robert Alford and Bruce Irvin are quite good when they’re at their best, but the Falcons understandably didn’t want to invest too much in both, especially after Alford slipped in a disappointing 2018 campaign.

On offense, the Falcons can always replace Tevin Coleman with a more consistent running back behind Devonta Freeman, who was sorely missed by the team last year.

Atlanta’s core remains fully intact heading into a critical 2019 season for head coach Dan Quinn and the rest of the franchise, and this offseason was always about the draft for the Falcons.

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