The Falcons have agreed to sign linebacker Frank Ginda, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). Ginda played for the USFL’s Michigan Panthers in each of the rebooted league’s first two seasons, and he took home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023.
Now 26, Ginda is no stranger to the NFL. The former San Jose State standout signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and went through OTAs with the club before being waived. He spent the rest of that summer with the Dolphins and ultimately wound up on Miami’s taxi squad, though he never appeared in a regular season contest.
Ginda, who has also spent time in the AAF and XFL, signed with the Saints in May 2019. New Orleans waived him as part of its final roster cuts that year.
While the Falcons’ two starting inside linebacker spots will be occupied by free agent acquisition Kaden Elliss and 2022 second-rounder Troy Andersen, it seems as if Ginda has a chance to finally carve out a spot for himself on a Week 1 NFL roster. Mykal Walker, a 2020 fourth-round selection, was displaced as a starter by Andersen late last season and appears ticketed for more of a rotational role in 2023. Walker’s spot on the depth chart is likely secure nonetheless, but Ginda could push players like Tae Davis and 2022 UDFA Nathan Landman for playing time.
In what he surely hopes was his final USFL season, Ginda posted a league-leading 104 tackles along with three interceptions and a sack. He has produced prolific tackle totals at both the collegiate and professional levels, and that acumen may at least earn him an extended look as a rotational defender and special teams contributor in Atlanta.
The Seahawks were also interested in Ginda and recently brought him in for a workout, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets.
Saw a report that Walker was cut. Really did not see that one coming. Best wishes to him as he is good enough to play for someone.
I have not seen Ginda play, so I won’t bash or gush over this pick up/release. Hope he really shows up big for the Falcons.
If I read OvertheCap correclty as this is a post-June 1 cut, I think this will save the Falcons 2.7m minus whatever they pay Ginda (probably the minimum at 750k). So this could be about a cap savings more than anyhing. Not certain what they might want to do this late in the FA window, but $2m is a decent amount.