Falcons free agency: Eric Weems headed to Titans, Aldrick Robinson to 49ers

The Atlanta Falcons will be in the market for a receiver or two this upcoming season, because while they have their top four options under contract barring anything crazy with Taylor Gabriel, they don’t really have anyone else.

Weems, who will be 32 when the season begins, has an obvious connection to former offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, the head coach in Tennessee. He’ll likely wind up being a core special teamer, part time receiver and perhaps returner for the Titans, reprising the role he’s played over the years for the Falcons and Bears.

While he’s gotten beaten up for some curious decisions on returns—and I’m not denying they were curious decisions, mind you—Weems has spent eight seasons as a Falcon and has been a core special teamer in every one of those seasons. He’s also been an intermittently useful receiver and, with the exception of some of those bizarre choices with the ball, a dependable returner. I’ll always have a soft spot for Special Weems, and wish him well in Tennessee.

His departure does open things up. Hardy isn’t the fastest man in the world, but he’s got great hands and is shifty enough to make this work. Gabriel, meanwhile, is blazing fast and scary with the ball in his hands, but the team may want to have him focus on offense. The name to watch here might be Andre Roberts, who was linked to the team last night and has plenty of return experience. Stay tuned.

In addition, as reported earlier today, Aldrick Robinson is headed to San Francisco to re-unite with Kyle Shanahan, who has been his offensive coordinator for the last few seasons. Robinson was a capable deep threat for Atlanta who reeled in 22 catches in the 2016 regular season, and the Falcons will hopefully be able to replace that production with what they already have on the roster. We wish him well, too, but not too well grumble grumble Kyle Shanahan grumble grumble.