Despite having started 43 games during his five-year career, Austin Pasztor didn’t receive much buzz in free agency. His run as a UFA appears to have ended on Friday, however.
The Falcons agreed to terms with the sixth-year tackle on a one-year deal, his agent, Sunny Shah, reveals (via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, on Twitter).
Ranked as a midlevel tackle option among the UFAs initially available at free agency’s outset, Pasztor will join a Falcons team that has two entrenched edge starters in Jake Matthews and Ryan Schraeder. Atlanta, though, doesn’t have plentiful depth behind its tackles and could use a proven swing option.
Dan Quinn expressed dissatisfaction with his swing candidates this week, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, likely leading to the Pasztor accord.
Pasztor figures to help with that and could factor into the ongoing right guard competition between Ben Garland and Wes Schweitzer. He’s suited up at guard for both the Jaguars and Browns during his career.
Pasztor served as a starter for the Jaguars and Browns, most recently starting 16 games for Cleveland at both tackle and guard last season. Originally a UDFA out of Virginia, the 26-year-old Pasztor was given the low-end RFA tender last year. This year marked his first foray into unrestricted free agency.
Well if he’s played guard for the Jags and Browns he must be a stud.
Remember what happened last time the Falcons signed a former Browns linemen?
Alex Mack went on to help get them to the Super Bowl and make the Pro Bowl