The Falcoholic
The Falcons are closer to having an assembled offense, but there are intriguing free agents and needs to still take a swing at.
As we’ve said repeatedly this spring, the Atlanta Falcons need to focus most of their efforts on their mediocre defense. To this point, that’s largely what they’ve done, with their three biggest signings (Leonard Floyd, Divine Deablo, and Mike Hughes) all coming on that side of the ball. That should continue, and we will be looking at appealing free agents still out there for whenever the Falcons find a way to carve out some more 2025 cap space.
All that said, the offense is not without its warts. The team is set to be heavily reliant on Ray-Ray McCloud as their third receiver with no clear, high-end fourth option, they need to upgrade on Ross Dwelley’s 2024 nothingburger as the team’s third tight end, and most importantly, they need to add a starter or at least veteran competition at center. If the team finds an avenue to a little more cap space—something I know is not exactly a given—one or two of those needs should be addressed, and center more or less has to be.
With that in mind, here are a few free agents the team ought to take a look at, with a bonus player if the Falcons move Kirk Cousins.
You know what you’re getting in Bradbury, and it’s basically Drew Dalman Lite. Bradbury is a better run blocker than a pass protector, like Dalman, but last season he wasn’t close to as good at either of those things as Dalman was. His track record is better than those 2024 results, however, and Dalman’s decent work in pass protection in 2024 was an outlier in his career. Chances are that Bradbury would be a small upgrade on Dalman in terms of his pass pro while not offering the same caliber of run blocking acumen, which is no great surprise given that Dalman was a true standout in that regard.
Basically, Bradbury is a durable, low-end starter who has had enough solid seasons in the past to think he could step in and do a credible job as the team’s center in 2025 and perhaps 2026. The team would sign him expecting him to assume the job over incumbents Ryan Neuzil and Jovaughn Gwyn, and know full well that it’s unlikely he’ll suddenly morph into a great center. When you have the rest of your line set and competence and the ability to avoid injury thus seem very appealing, Bradbury seems like a good fit.
This isn’t the Andrews as he was at the height of the Patriots dynasty, when he was consistently one of the best centers in the league. His pass protection hasn’t been as sharp in recent years and Andrews is both on the wrong side of 30 and coming off an injury that cost him all but four games in 2024. You’d be...
