Both the Falcons and Packers have interest in free agent tight end Ed Dickson, according to Vaughn McClure and Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
Dickson, 30, didn’t play a large receiving role during his first three years with the Panthers, but an injury to starting tight end Greg Olsen allowed Dickson to play on 80% of Carolina’s offensive plays last season. While he wasn’t a world-beater, Dickson did manage 437 yards and a touchdown, solid numbers considering he’d managed just 370 receiving yards from 2014-16.
Atlanta needs another tight end after cutting Levine Toilolo, while Green Bay also has interest in another free agent tight end in Jimmy Graham. Richard Rodgers is due to become an unrestricted free agent, which will leave Lance Kendricks and Emanuel Byrd as the only two tight ends on the Packers’ roster when the new league year begins Wednesday.
Dickson worked intermittently as a starter in his first four years of the league with the Ravens, seizing opportunities behind the often-injured Dennis Pitta. Dickson started all 16 games his sophomore season in 2011 and had five touchdowns to with 54 receptions and 528 yards receiving — all career highs.