Dashon Goldson signs with Atlanta Falcons, per reports and also Takeo Spikes

Dashon Goldson kicked around on the free agent market for a long time, but he’s now signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and will provide veteran depth at safety at least as long as Keanu Neal is out.

Goldson is a hitter first and foremost and is more valuable in run support than anything else, though he’s had his moments in coverage over the years. That physicality can play well at times, and Goldson could be in line for a special teams role that utilizes his ability as a big hitter, even if he’s not getting a ton of snaps at safety. Kemal Ishmael is going to be the starter for Atlanta while Keanu Neal is out, but Goldson likely signed for a shot at a larger role down the line if Neal or fellow starter Ricardo Allen falter. It’s not unreasonable to think he’ll wind up with some playing time this season, but things would have to go awry for that to really happen.

With Goldson’s signing, the Falcons still need to make a corresponding move to get the roster back down to 75 men. We’ll wait to see who they cut.

Welcome to Atlanta, Dashon Goldson.