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Falcons free agency: The best remaining free agents for Atlanta

Here's a list of nine guys we want, and one we kind of want and are maybe joking about a little bit.

By Dave Choate
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Free agency will roll on for weeks, and while the Falcons look to be winding down on the big name signings, they'll be shopping for bargains into the summer. Right now, there are several players worthy of

Here's our list.

Top Remaining Free Agents for Falcons

  1. LB Jerrell Freeman. The Falcons badly, badly need a middle linebacker with some speed and coverage ability, and while Freeman may not be great, he is very good and would be the biggest upgrade possible in free agency at this key position of need for Atlanta. The team has been linked to him, but it's hard to know how hard they're pursuing him.
  2. DE Robert Ayers. I don't think he's a nine-plus sack player in Atlanta, but Ayers is the best pass rusher left on the open market, and signing him would ensure that the Falcons have a very impressive rotation at defensive end in 2016. It may be a little crowded, however.
  3. S Tony Jefferson. Here's our run of safeties. Jefferson is only 24 years old and had a very nice season for Arizona in 2015, and because he was tendered at the lowest level, the Falcons wouldn't have to surrender any assets to pry him away from the Cardinals, assuming they didn't match the offer. I believe he's worth pursuing.
  4. S Eric Weddle. At 31, he's still an excellent safety, one who would give the Falcons a strong veteran presence in the secondary for the next couple of seasons, at least. Cost may be the chief stumbling block here.
  5. S Reggie Nelson. I'm not worried about his ability to play strong safety in Atlanta, because I expect Dan Quinn and company to be able to play to his strengths. He's a tremendous ballhawk and quality hitter, even if he's aging.
  6. CB Brandon Boykin. The Falcons won't count nickel cornerback among their top needs, but a player like Boykin would be an excellent fit for this team, potentially fielding kicks and providing athleticism and talent in three corner sets while Jalen Collins develops further.
  7. DE Chris Long. I may be on an island here, but I still think Long has something in the tank if he's healthy. Adding him would complete the Falcons' rotation at defensive end for 2016, and if he even halfway returns to form, he'll be one of the better pass rushers on this team.
  8. LB Zach Brown. He offers the kind of speed the Falcons covet, even if he's not a great player, and would be a low-cost addition to a depleted corps.
  9. LB James Laurinaitis. The Falcons obviously like him, but I think they'd be better off adding Freeman or Brown. If they strike out on both, though, Laurinaitis is a worthy gamble as a potential bounceback candidate and starter in the middle.
  10. DE Kroy Biermann. BRING HIM HOME, TD!

Who makes your list of top remaining free agents?

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