Report: Falcons are interested in 346-pound, 6-foot-3 DT Dontari Poe

Scott Pioli loves the players he drafted in Kansas City. The problem for the Falcons is a lot of them weren’t very good. I’m looking at you Tyson Jackson, Javier Arenas, and Jon Asamoah.

Now size-speed freak Dontari Poe, the 11th overall pick of the 2012 draft, is drawing interest from the Falcons, per the occasionally accurate Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports.

Poe’s price wont be cheap however, and he could end up opting for a one-year deal in order to hit the market again in 2018, when the defensive tackle class should be weak. The Chiefs will be hard pressed to keep Poe at this point, but Indianapolis, Oakland, Atlanta and others continue to monitor his market.

While Poe is a two-time Pro Bowler, he had a down season and is entering a crowded defensive tackle market. Per the even less accurate Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, Poe may settle for a one-year deal and try again next year.

If this proves true, it may be a good fit for the Falcons. The Falcons took a chance on a few players in 2015, like Adrian Clayborn. A short deal would let Poe rehab his value while giving Atlanta a big body up the middle.

The downside is his run stuffing was not great last year, and he fell someone in the middle of PFF’s defensive tackle player rankings in 2016. Here’s what SBN’s Arrowhead Pride had to say about Poe.

Poe’s case is a tricky one. He plays a ton of snaps and has two Pro Bowls under his belt. However, his pass rushing skills haven’t been as strong in the past couple of years and he has a back surgery on his resume. He’ll be 27 by the time next season starts. I would take Poe back - at the right price, of course.

If Poe can return to his early career success, the Falcons defensive line should take a major step forward, along with development from Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett. Anyone else think the team should roll the dice on Poe?