Falcons Ink Malliciah Goodman, Stansly Maponga To Four-Year Deals

Slowly but steadily, the Falcons are taking care of signing this year's incoming draft picks, a process that has been expedited by the rookie pay scale instituted under the new collective bargaining agreement.

With safeties Zeke Motta and Kemal Ishmael already under wraps, Atlanta officially signed defensive ends Malliciah Goodman and Stansly Maponga, fourth and fifth-round picks in this year's draft, respectively. Both look to have signed the typically structured four-year rookie deal.

Goodman, a product of Clemson and good 'ole Dabo Swinney, is your prototypical strong-side defensive end. He's a powerful run defender who should see most of his action on early downs, perhaps even starting as a rookie. He also offers some limited potential as a pass rusher.

Maponga, a solid pass-rusher on what was a talented TCU defense in 2012, projects more as a traditional blindside defensive end. Most of his potential comes from the upside he offers as a speedy edge rusher in passing situations.

Now the only unsigned rookies that remain are Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford, Levine Toilolo and Sean Renfree. Trufant and Alford are arguably the most important picks left to sign for a Falcons team looking to overhaul its secondary.

These last deals may take some time, given Atlanta's salary cap situation. But no need to fret: Trufant and Alford will be taken care of and on the field before we know it.