Falcons re-sign free agent CB Leon McFadden, OT Austin Pasztor

Heading into free agency, Leon McFadden and Austin Pasztor seemed like two of the least likely free agents to re-sign in Atlanta. McFadden didn’t really play for Atlanta last year, after all, and Pasztor was a near-weekly inactive at tackle behind Ty Sambrailo.

Of course, the Falcons like to throw us some low grade curveballs from time to time, and they’ve done so here. Both players are coming back on one-year deals.

McFadden, 27, was an in-season addition for the Falcons at cornerback, and he barely saw the field. He’s gotten relatively little playing time in his career, if we’re being honest, but the Falcons apparently saw something they liked in practice and will give him another shot to make the roster as the team’s fifth cornerback. We’ll hope he either never has to see the field or has crazy hidden talents we just haven’t seen yet.

Pasztor, also 27, looked like a lock to be the team’s swing tackle in 2017 before an injury effectively forced the Falcons into making another move. They ended up swapping a fifth round pick for Ty Sambrailo, who served as the team’s swing tackle all of last season and figures to reprise that role. Pasztor, now hopefully fully healthy, could compete for the job and will at worst be in play as a deep reserve at guard and tackle. He’s a solid re-signing for this offensive line, which looks like it will be look about the same as it did a year ago barring the addition of a young center or guard in the draft.

Welcome back, gentlemen.