Falcons free agency rumors: Terrell McClain rumors heat up for Atlanta

Atlanta’s been linked to Terrell McClain for a little bit now, and where there’s smoke, there is sometimes a fire and not just a candle someone forgot to put out. I’m not sure that analogy makes any sense.

McClain, 28, is not well-loved by Pro Football Focus and doesn’t have eye-popping stats, but that’s not what this is all about. The Falcons need defensive tackles who can be a useful part of the rotation, and McClain is fresh off a useful season where he started 15 games, picked up 2.5 sacks, and played quality run defense that sometimes looked like this.

He’s not going to be incredibly expensive, he’ll likely play close to starter’s snaps on this defense, and I think he’d be a fine signing. I would obviously prefer a huge ticket free agent like Calais Campbell, but the Falcons are working with a pool of cap space that is in the bottom third of the NFL at the moment, and big splashes are probably not in the offing. Someone like McClain shores up a position of need, and if the Falcons land a quality draft selection as well, defensive tackle will look a hell of a lot better in 2017 than it did in 2016.