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The Atlanta Falcons have supplanted the depth in their secondary with a solid veteran safety. With little depth behind Keanu Neal, it was a much needed move.
Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo Sports reports that former Chiefs S Ron Parker will be signing a deal with the Falcons.
Parker is a good signing for the Falcons. Veteran with good coverage ability and locker room presence. Both starting safeties (Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal) return but I could easily see him helping the Falcons in the nickel and dime subpackages
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) June 25, 2018
Atlanta had interest in Parker way back in 2015 when the team had an opening at free safety, though he would up signing with Kansas City instead, where he started at free safety next to Eric Berry for three seasons. The team cut him in March.
In Atlanta, Parker will perhaps back up strong safety Keanu Neal, or at least give the team some remarkable depth at free safety. It’s been rumored for some time Dan Quinn has interest in running three safety sets, and Parker would absolutely give the team the flexibility to do that.
Parker has nine career interceptions and 320 total tackles in his nine-season career.
This signing probably puts the team out of the running for Supplemental Draft safety Brandon Bryant, who the team was on hand to see for his Pro Day, though if the team really just wanted a new group of safeties for depth, it’s still possible.
We welcome the new safety to the Falcons, and consider this secondary, if we didn’t already, one of the best (if not the best) in franchise history. This is a loaded group that could do some real damage come fall.
UPDATE: the team has confirmed the signing.
TRANSACTION: We have signed S Ron Parker.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) June 25, 2018
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