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While we all fret about the state of the Atlanta Falcons’ edge rotation, they brought in a respectable veteran defensive end for a visit Wednesday.
UFA defensive lineman Allen Bailey is visiting the Falcons today, per source. He has previously visited the Patriots, Panthers and Seahawks.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 5, 2019
Former Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey had a career year in sacks in 2018 with six, which might not make you too excited. But consider that the Falcons could use all the help here they could get, particularly after they lost edge Steven Means to an Achilles tear.
Bailey’s former defensive coordinator from KC is now with the Falcons, if you’ll recall. Bob Sutton is now on staff assisting Dan Quinn with game day duties and such, and perhaps that’d be a driving force for him to want to join the team.
He was also drafted by Scott Pioli, the team’s now-former assistant GM. Perhaps Pioli put in a good word before he moved on elsewhere?
The signing probably wouldn’t cost a ton on what we presume would be a one-year deal, and the team’s cap space got a nice little boost with the money recouped in the post-June 1 release of tackle Ryan Schraeder.
Over the Cap estimates the Birds have about $6.5 million in space, which should do it if Bailey feels this is a fit for him.
The team’s edge rotation would get a nice June bump with Bailey’s addition. Again, that group needs some more certainty going for it, with Means’ absence and the lingering questions for how Vic Beasley and Takkarist McKinley will perform in pivotal seasons for each.
Bailey’s not a world-breaker, but you know he should at least be solid.
We’ll see if the team can get him over the finish line, or if he opts to go elsewhere. As Adam Schefter notes, he’ll have his options.