3 positions where the Falcons may still add veterans

The Falcons are not done with this roster just yet. There are players we aren’t seriously considering for roster spots who may grab one, and there are certainly veterans who may be added to the roster down the line.

Looking at the roster as it currently stands, there are three obvious positions that might need a boost from a veteran. Let’s take a closer look at the them now.

Guard

Current Options: Wes Schweitzer, Hugh Thornton, Ben Garland, Sean Harlow, UDFAs galore

The Falcons just may not be done here. Schweitzer is the presumptive favorite and Harlow the promising young challenger, but if both of those players look shaky in camp and Hugh Thornton isn’t lighting the world on fire*, the Falcons will explore veteran insurance. Hell, they may anyways.

Any addition here would need to be a starter, however, and those are not necessarily easy to come by. The Falcons would be extremely set with Schweitzer, Garland and Harlow all available to back up that player, but there’s a question of what will be available at guard. It’s unlikely to be compelling.

*Hugh Thornton will not light the world on fire

Tackle

Current Options: Andreas Knappe, Will Freeman, Daniel Brunskill, Kevin Graf

If you were betting money on the single likeliest place for the Falcons to add a veteran between now and the start of the season, tackle would be it. The Falcons have two top-shelf starters in Jake Matthews and Ryan Schraeder, and no proven players behind them whatsoever at the moment. Unless one of the other linemen on the roster currently is in play at swing tackle—we simply don’t know yet—it’s coming down to three undrafted free agents to back up Matthews and Schraeder. That’s, uh, worrisome.

My money’s on Knappe winning if the Falcons maintain the status quo, but more than likely they’ll do what they’ve done for years and pick up a veteran off the scrap heap in August to fill the role. It’s a virtual lock they’ll add someone.

Safety

Current Options: Damontae Kazee, Sharrod Neasman, Jordan Moore, Deron Washington, Quincy Mauger, Brian Poole (?)

Kazee, if he plays does indeed play safety for this football team, is an obvious fit as the team’s third option there. Neasman showed some promise a year ago and could be the team’s fourth safety. If the Falcons don’t feel great about Neasman and aren’t willing to move Poole to safety, they could add a veteran. Considering they like to have as many as five safeties on the roster at any one time, they might do it anyways.