NFL free agency grades: How did each team do?

Atlanta Falcons

Signing Todd Gurley to a one-year deal worth $5 million could prove to be a stroke of genius. The Atlanta Falcons can’t expect anything from Gurley due to his troublesome knee, but a healthy Gurley could be the latest superstar in a Falcons offense which includes Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley at wide receiver.

Atlanta lost Austin Hooper to the Cleveland Browns, but they saved $11 million per year on a player they were restricting to a safety valve role. While the Falcons should not have spent so many picks on Hayden Hurst, the move could prove to be another great gamble from Thomas Dimitroff if Hurst fulfills his potential.

The Falcons upgraded Vic Beasley with the more consistent Dante Fowler Jr., who was quietly a standout on the loaded Los Angeles Rams defensive line. Fowler is coming off an amazing season in Los Angeles with 11.5 sacks, and not only is he an upgrade over Beasley in pretty much every sense, but he could also find another level to his game under former college coach Dan Quinn.

Finally, the Falcons released former superstar cornerback Desmond Trufant, but they had to make the move. Atlanta will save more than $10 million against the cap after cutting Trufant, though it makes cornerback a big need for them in the draft.

Grade: B-