The Falcons released longtime CB Desmond Trufant in March, and as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, Trufant was designated as a post-June 1 cut. As such, Atlanta will be able to spread out his dead money charge over the course of the 2020 and 2021 seasons and will gain $10.75MM of cap room when the calendar flips to June on Monday.
The club presently has just $252K of cap space, so the relief is much-needed. As Ledbetter observes, the Falcons will use a good chunk of their newfound space to bring their six-man draft class under contract (at the moment, the team has not signed any of its 2020 draftees). That will leave Atlanta with roughly $7MM of room thanks to the Rule of 51, and GM Thomas Dimitroff likes to keep about $2MM on hand throughout the course of the season in case of emergency.
So Dimitroff will have $5MM to play with should any of the remaining crop of veteran free agents appeal to him. There are a few potentially viable corners on the market, and Atlanta could stand to add an experienced player to complement the youth at that position. The Falcons selected CB A.J. Terrell in the first round of this year’s draft, and he is currently slated to line up opposite third-year pro Isaiah Oliver. Rising sophomore Kendall Sheffield had a solid rookie campaign in the slot and will likely reprise that role in 2020.
Players like Logan Ryan — if his price tag comes down — Trumaine Johnson, and Dre Kirkpatrick could be targets for Atlanta. A situational pass rusher like Clay Matthews may also be in the mix.
I haven’t heard any rumblings about Kirkpatrick. Is there a reason for this? I thought he was pretty solid…
Had a bad year, doesn’t play slot, wants more than league min
Source? I’m genuinely curious
I would really like for the Falcons to sign Clay Matthews. Another Pass rusher needed.
I guess you haven’t watched Clay Matthews in years then
From $250k to $11m in ‘cap room’ w/ 1 cut. People, please stop believing in ‘cap space’. What a sham.
As a Jets fan I just have a quick comment on a Trumaine Johnson to the Falcons rumor. Ouch.
as a Falcons fan I have a quick comment on Adam Gase. Ouch…lol! Although this very well may be Quinns last season but still haha