Falcons' Eddie Goldman: Back in the mix with Atlanta
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The Falcons signed Goldman on Wednesday, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports.
Goldman will join Atlanta's offseason roster after he recently decided to put an end to his second retirement. The 6-foot-3, 332-pound defensive tackle last saw action with the Bears in 2021, but now that he's been signed by Atlanta, the 30-year-old will look to carve out a role in the team's line rotation.
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Eddie Goldman: Off reserve/left squad list
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Goldman (undisclosed) was released from the reserve/left squad list by the Falcons on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Goldman signed a contract with the Falcons in July 2022 after he spent six seasons with the Bears. However, a couple of weeks later, the Florida State product opted to retire instead. He attempted a comeback in 2023 but that ended with him once again walking away from Atlanta and being placed on the exempt/left squad list.
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Ikenna Enechukwu: Gets cut loose
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Enechukwu (undisclosed) was released by the Falcons with a failed physical designation Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Enechukwu joined Atlanta as an undrafted free agent last April but suffered an undisclosed injury during training camp, which ultimately led to him missing the entire 2023 campaign. He'll now have to prove he's healthy before earning an opportunity with another team.
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Falcons' Kentavius Street: Returns to Atlanta
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Street (pectoral) re-signed with the Falcons on Monday.
Street was sent to Atlanta via a trade with the Eagles on Oct. 30 and proceeded to play five games with the franchise before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury. The NC State product should bolster the Falcons' depth on the defensive line in 2024.
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Texans' Jeff Okudah: Signing with Texans
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Houston plans to sign Okudah to a one-year, $4.75 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
After a short-lived stint with the Falcons, Okudah is now joining forces with the Texans. Over 13 games in 2023, he recorded 44 tackles (34 solo) and three passes defensed. He projects as a rotational option for Houston in 2024.
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Falcons' Nate Landman: Inks new deal
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Landman re-signed with Atlanta on Wednesday, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Landman earned an increased role in his second season with the Falcons in 2023, appearing in 16 games (14 starts) while notching 110 tackles (66 solo), 2.0 sacks, three passes defensed, three forced fumbles and an interception. Now that he's under contract for 2024, Landman can likely be penciled in for a starting role within Atlanta's linebacker corps.
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Falcons' Zach Harrison: Makes impact as rookie
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Harrison (knee) finished 2023 with 33 tackles, 3.0 sacks and one pass defense in 16 appearances.
A rookie third-round pick, Harrison immediately carved out a rotational role, but he didn't make an impact as a pass rusher until later in the season, recording 3.0 total sacks in Weeks 15 and 16. The youngster missed Week 18 due to a knee injury he sustained in Week 17. The extent of the issue remains unclear, but he returned and finished the Week 17 loss to the Bears and was a limited participant during Week 18 prep, suggesting the knee injury won't impact his offseason. Given the flashes he showed in 2023, Harrison could earn an increased workload in Year 2.
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Falcons' Troy Andersen: Year 2 marred by injury
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Andersen (pectoral) finished 2023 with 19 tackles (seven solo) and half a sack in two appearances.
Andersen suffered a pectoral injury in Week 2 and was placed on IR. He was designated to return the Wednesday of Week 18 prep, but he ultimately wasn't cleared to suit up. Andersen should be able to reclaim his starting spot in 2024 if he's healthy, but Nate Landman and Kaden Elliss both played well in Andersen's absence in 2023.
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Falcons' Andre Smith: Modest results in 2023
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Smith finished 2023 with 19 tackles (13 solo), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defense in 11 appearances.
Smith operated primarily on special teams for most of the season, but he saw extended defensive work in two games, totaling 16 tackles (eight solo) over 98 snaps during those contests. His 19 tackles and 110 defensive snaps were both career-high marks, and he'll look to parlay that into a new contract this offseason.
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Falcons' Mike Hughes: Carves out role to end 2023
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Hughes finished 2023 with 21 tackles (14 solo) and one pass defense in 15 appearances. He also recorded 46 kick-return yards and 67 punt-return yards.
Hughes signed a two-deal deal with the Falcons last offseason after a strong campaign with Detroit. He operated primarily as a return man to open 2023, but he slowly relinquished those duties to Dee Alford and started to carve out a defensive role. Hughes is under contract for one more season and figures to garner a similar role in 2024, though Atlanta may look to revamp its cornerback room behind A.J. Terrell this offseason.
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Falcons' Albert Huggins: Career-high 22 tackles
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Huggins finished 2023 with 22 tackles (seven solo) and one fumble recovery in 13 appearances.
Huggins didn't get a qualifying offer from the Saints last offseason after spending the entire 2022 campaign on IR. He joined the Falcons on a one-year deal last summer and carved out a rotational role in 2023. Huggins is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but a reunion wouldn't be surprising given his role this season.
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Falcons' Ta'Quon Graham: Limited impact in 2023
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Graham finished 2023 with 23 tackles (six solo), 1.0 sacks and one forced fumble in 15 appearances.
Graham played in a career-high 15 games and notched his first career sack and forced fumble in 2023. He is heading into the final year of his rookie year and figures to garner a similar rotational role in 2024.
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Falcons' Arnold Ebiketie: Career-high 6.0 sacks in 2023
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Ebiketie finished 2023 with 25 tackles, 6.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defense in 17 appearances.
A 2022 second-round pick, Ebiketie appeared in one more game than his rookie season but played 130 fewer defensive snaps. This may have been by design, as the Falcons loaded up on pass rushers last offseason to ensure Ebiketie was fresh when he was on the field. Despite the reduced playing time, Ebiketie posted 3.5 more sacks than last year and proved to be a disruptor, forcing two forced fumbles for a second straight season. Bud Dupree may sign elsewhere this offseason, which would open up more snaps for Ebiketie in 2024, but the Falcons would presumably bring in someone to replace Dupree if that's the case.
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Falcons' Clark Phillips: Earns starting role
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Phillips finished 2023 with 27 tackles (22 solo) and five pass defenses in 11 appearances.
A rookie fourth-round pick, Phillips played exclusively on special teams to start the campaign but carved out a starting role down the stretch, supplanting Jeff Okudah. Over the final five weeks, Phillips recorded 26 tackles and four pass defenses. A.J. Terrell is locked into the top cornerback spot, but Phillips figures to have a shot at the No. 2 gig in 2024, though the Falcons will presumably look to improve their defensive back depth during the offseason.
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Falcons' Lorenzo Carter: Rotational role in 2023
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Carter finished 2023 with 35 tackles (24 solo), 3.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one pass defense in 17 appearances.
Despite not missing a game, Carter played less than half as many defensive snaps in 2023 (406) than he did in 2022 (877). Despite a drop in overall tackle numbers, Carter still made an occasional impact as a pass rusher. The 2018 third-round pick has one year remaining on his current deal, and he figures to handle a similar role in 2024, though he could see an uptick in snaps if Bud Dupree signs elsewhere this offseason.
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Falcons' Bud Dupree: Gets back on track in 2023
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Dupree finished 2023 with 39 tackles (17 solo), 6.5 sacks, three pass defenses and two forced fumbles in 16 appearances.
After back-to-back down years in Tennessee, Dupree signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Falcons last offseason. The 2015 first-round pick did just that, playing in his most games since 2019 while recording his most sacks and forced fumbles since 2020 -- his final year with Pittsburgh. The veteran pass rusher will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but it wouldn't be surprising if there's mutual interest in a return given the bounce-back campaign Dupree had in 2023.
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Falcons' DeMarcco Hellams: Carves out role down the stretch
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Hellams (concussion) finished 2023 with 40 tackles (25 solo) in 15 appearances.
A rookie seventh-round pick, Hellams operated exclusively on special teams to start his career but gradually carved out a larger defensive role. He operated as a starter over the final weeks of the campaign but missed the season finale due to a concussion. Given the way the year ended, Hellams should have a chance to compete with Richie Grant for snaps next to Jessie Bates in 2024, but the Falcons may look to upgrade the safety position this offseason as well.
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Falcons' Dee Alford: Nonfactor down the stretch
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Alford finished 2023 with 41 tackles (25 solo), six pass defenses and one fumble recovery in 16 appearances. He also recorded 13 kick-return yards and 160 punt-return yards.
After being a regular defensive contributor for the first 14 weeks of the season, Alford was relegated to primarily operating on special teams over the final four games. He's under contract for one more season, but if the Falcons make any additions to their secondary this offseason, Alford's defensive role could become obsolete in 2024.
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Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Replaced in 2023
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Okudah finished 2023 with 44 tackles (34 solo) and three pass defenses in 13 appearances.
After back-to-back disappointing seasons to start his career, Okudah made an impact on the Lions' defense in 2022, totaling 73 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. However, he was traded to Atlanta last offseason and carved out a starting role, posting 41 tackles from Weeks 4 to 13. However, he was ultimately replaced by Clark Phillips down the stretch. The Falcons declined the fifth-year team option for 2024 on Okudah's rookie deal, so the cornerback will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
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Falcons' A.J. Terrell: Forces zero turnovers in 2023
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Terrell finished 2023 with 45 tackles (34 solo) and 11 pass defenses in 17 appearances.
Terrell is considered one of the best cover cornerbacks in the league, but he's struggled to generate production the last two seasons, especially in the playmaking department. After totaling four interceptions and four forced fumbles across his first two NFL seasons, the 2020 first-round pick has recorded just one fumble recovery over the last two campaigns. As long as that trend continues, Terrell is a better player in real life than fantasy. Atlanta exercised the fifth-year team option for 2024 on Terrell's rookie deal, so he'll be back next season, though he's slated to be an unrestricted free agent after that.
