Atlanta Falcons free agency 2021: Top 5 targets
By John Buhler
Scouting Report. Indianapolis Colts. 46. player. Pick Analysis. S. Malik Hooker. 1
If any player who is a free agent is likely to be on the 2021 Falcons, it has to be Colts safety Malik Hooker. The former Ohio State standout has not lived up to lofty expectations in four years with Indianapolis. Despite being coached up by Matt Eberflus the last few seasons, it is more likely than not that Hooker has played his last snap for the Midwestern AFC team that drafted him in 2017.
So the Colts’ loss is potentially the Falcons’ gain. As with Mack, Hooker is a player Smith, and Pees, have seen for years in the AFC South. While he was a tad raw coming out of Ohio State, there were very defensive backs who could make a play on the ball like Hooker could. Not only that, but the New Orleans Saints’ entire defensive backfield is chock full of former Buckeyes greats.
So in a way, this would be like Fontenot bringing a player over with him from the Saints without actually bringing over a player with him from the Saints. Yes, New Orleans safety Marcus Williams is a free agent too, but you do not want to put Mr. Minneapolis Miracle on the same franchise that gave us 28-3. That is too much bad juju for any football player to possibly overcome in his life.
Overall, Hooker seems to check all the boxes for what the Falcons could be looking at in free agency. He will not command a ton due to past performance. He plays the one position Atlanta will likely address in free agency. He played in the same division as the new head coach and defensive coordinator. And he played at the same college that the Saints organization lives to draft from.
dark. Next. 3 teams Marcus Mariota turns into contenders
Ultimately, Atlanta will have to pick and choose where its gets better in free agency. While we should expect the bulk of the Falcons’ offseason moves to come in a few months in the 2021 NFL Draft, look for the Fontenot/Smith pairing to pick up a few players it likes on the free-agent market. These moves will not win Atlanta its first Super Bowl, but will make the 2021 team better.
What players should Fontenot and Smith target for the Falcons in their impending free agency?