Falcons expected to keep Roddy White, per report

According to a report from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Falcons are likely to keep veteran receiver Roddy White on the roster in 2016.

White, who has two years remaining on his contract, has said that he'd like to remain in Atlanta. He was only targeted by Matt Ryan 67 times in 2016, and he had his worst statistical year since 2006 this season. White finished with 506 yards and one touchdown on 43 receptions in this season. Head coach Dan Quinn pointed out that White also had the fewest drops on the team, which matters.

"He is from a competitor's standpoint, absolutely he has all the stuff," Quinn said. "Can he catch? He had some of the fewest drops on our whole team, so like his game is still complete. It's just a matter of what is the best way for us to feature him."

Quinn also indicated that the Falcons may consider shifting White to the slot. It's a move that led to a resurgent year for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and it could create more opportunities for White to have an impact this season.

"You root for players like Rod, who have that warrior mindset to them," Quinn said. "Where Rod is at his best is on the (inside) breaking stuff. Where he's (moving) from outside to in. That's where he can use his strength to body a guy up so to speak."

White has spent his entire career in Atlanta, and fans didn't react well to what seemed to be a diminished role in the Falcons' offense this season. After White expressed to ESPN's Vaughn McClure that he would obviously like to have more targets, fans responded by chanting White's name in the Georgia Dome after every reception. The coaching staff noticed.

"Because of his stature here in the city and with the fans and what (White) stands for, he's really a guy that we have to talk about," Quinn said.

The team may choose to restructure White's contract. White is currently set to make $6.1 million in 2016 and close to $6.3 million in 2017, per Spotrac.com.

White has said that he'd like to remain in Atlanta, "forever and ever, amen." It sounds like Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn agree.