The Falcons are not signing Dwight Freeney today, coach Dan Quinn told reporters (including Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com). However, a signing has not been ruled out for down the road. 
[RELATED: Click Here To Vote On Where You Think Dwight Freeney Will Sign]
Freeney, 36, visited with the Falcons today. Strictly a pass-rushing specialist at this stage of his career, Freeney has not found a ripe market for his services despite coming off of a surprisingly strong season. Freeney didn’t hook on with the Cardinals until midway through the 2015 campaign, but he made up for lost time by racking up 8 sacks in 11 games. In 2015, the advanced stats at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Freeney as (tied) for the 51st best edge rusher in the NFL out of 110 qualified players.
The Falcons are not necessarily hard up for edge rushers, but Freeney could be a fit for Dan Quinn‘s aggressive defensive scheme. The Falcons are currently slated to start Vic Beasley and Derrick Shelby at defensive end with support from Adrian Clayborn and Tyson Jackson. Recently, former NFL head coach and current analyst Mike Nolan opined that the Falcons should sign Freeney to improve their quarterback pressure. Last season, the Falcons finished with a league-worst 19 sacks.
Last month, Freeney also visited the Bengals, but it is not clear if talks are still active between the two sides.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
He’s not getting any younger
The Falcons wouldn’t sign Freeny if he was 25 y/o. It’s actually strains the mind to wonder over the yrs why with only an exception or two that they have not targeted the pass rush as a priority. It’s becoming more and more a passing league, and most CB’s simply cannot stay with today’s wideouts for very long and must have help from the pass rush or the defense falls apart. But season after season, we’ve heard how they were gonna utilize multiple guys in varying roles and it just never works. Beasley had better turn into the real deal and they’d better get some help on the other side or we’re gonna keep seeing teams converting the big downs and wearing the defense down.