The Falcons agreed to sign offensive tackle Austin Pasztor to a one-year deal, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Pasztor, 28 next month, was with the Falcons last year, so he’s already familiar with the club’s blocking schemes.
Last year, the veteran didn’t land a free agent contract until August, and went on to appear in only seven games as a reserve for the Falcons. This year, he was with Atlanta through the offseason, but missed the team’s final cut.
Pasztor’s career has taken him through a few different cities and multiple positions. In 2016, he turned in an excellent year as the Browns’ right tackle, but garnered little interest as a starter in the offseason. Prior to that season, he moved between left guard and right tackle for the Browns and Jags.
The Falcons are banking on Pasztor and others to fortify their starting line in the wake of multiple injuries to the front five. On Tuesday, right guard Brandon Fusco joined left guard Andy Levitre on IR, prompting the Falcons to pluck Rees Odhiambo from the Colts’ taxi squad. For now, Ben Garland seems likely to start at RG with Wes Schweitzer continuing on the left side.