After letting Dee Alford hit free company, the Falcons are reportedly taking a look at in-house choices to exchange him in 2025
After touchdown big-name free brokers in 2023 and 2024, the Atlanta Falcons needed to sit on their fingers through the 2025 free company interval as a result of an absence of wage cap area. The group was compelled to launch defensive lineman Grady Jarrett and let a number of free brokers stroll, together with middle Drew Dalman.
One other participant the Falcons aren’t anticipated to convey again is nickel cornerback Dee Alford. The previous undrafted free agent appeared in 48 video games over the past three seasons, however the group discovered his $3.2 million tender too costly.
For the reason that Falcons have but to signal a transparent substitute on the nickel spot, they could be compelled to take a look at some in-house choices. In keeping with Josh Kendall of the Athletic, Atlanta plans to audition third-year cornerback Clark Phillips III on the nickel this season.
“The Falcons imagine Mike Hughes can play exterior cornerback or the nickel spot, and so they plan to audition Clark Phillips III at nickelback this offseason to see if he has the identical kind of versatility, Morris mentioned,” wrote Kendall.
Phillips, a former fourth-round choose, has proven promise over his first two NFL seasons. Nonetheless, he is primarily performed on the surface since becoming a member of the group in 2023. Final season, Phillips earned a protection grade of 74.1, which was increased than A.J. Terrell (69.5), Mike Hughes (71.4) and Alford (55.9).
The previous Utah standout recorded his first profession interceptions together with 28 solo tackles and 5 passes defended. Phillips could not have NFL expertise within the slot, however he performed there fairly a bit throughout his ultimate 12 months at Utah (214 snaps).
“Atlanta has not re-signed final 12 months’s beginning nickel, Dee Alford, and is prone to be looking out for an additional cornerback within the draft,” Kendall continued. “Nonetheless, if not one of the Falcons’ most well-liked targets change into accessible to them through the draft, having Hughes and Phillips each skilled at nickel will no less than give them choices on the two beginning exterior spots.”
The draft can be an possibility, as Kendall steered, however discovering somebody to begin within the slot as a rookie appears unlikely. Whereas Hughes additionally has expertise within the slot, his transfer again to the surface offered one of many few brilliant spots on protection final season.
The group gave Hughes a three-year, $18 million contract, so count on him to proceed beginning on the surface in 2025. The Falcons ought to have extra readability within the secondary after the 2025 NFL draft later this month.
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