Falcoholinks: All the Falcons news you need for Tuesday, Feb. 25

It is the offseason yet the Falcons are busy at work... we assume. Actually, outside of a few interviews about the upcoming NFL combine, they haven’t done much. Or anything. In fact, all of the guaranteed cuts are still on the roster, Austin Hooper hasn’t had so much as a contract offer, and fans are dying.

Speaking of guaranteed cuts, apparently some will stick around. We don’t know why. While Jamon Brown’s contract was so bad that he can’t be cut despite being a healthy inactive at the end of the season, James Carpenter was both bad and cuttable. Per Thomas Dimitroff, those two will be competing with the-guy-who-should-have-been-starting Matt Gono for the left guard spot. Time is a flat circle.

What do we know? Thomas Dimitroff intends to do something! Fret not, angry fans, because one of the league’s best will suit up in black and red in 2020. That’s right, backup quarterback and soon-to-be 39-year-old Matt Schaub will return. I’m not even mad. Schaub filled in against the Rams and went 6 for 6 for 65 yards and a touchdown, went 39 for 52 for 460 yards and 1 touchdown against the Seahawks in Seattle, and may or may not be a murder, allegedly. He can fill in for for Matt Ryan and hold his own.

Hooper is definitely the biggest storyline for the Falcons this offseason. He is a big name free agent, he is a major part of the Falcons offense, and is still not under contract in 2020. He could be franchised but the Falcons do not have the cap space. He could be extended but there has been no reported negotiation. Or he could just walk. We run through all the options with the upcoming franchise window in mind.

The Falcons are short on linebackers since trading Duke Riley for a ham sandwich and De’Vondre Campbell expected to become a free agent. Deion Jones needs help, and we think the team can find it in the NFL draft. We look at the best prospects and how they can fit on the 2020 defense.

The good money is the Falcons move on from Devonta Freeman, in part because of all the good money in his base salary the Falcons won’t have to pay if he’s cut. Ito Smith has some concerning concussions, Brian Hill did not do much, and Qadree Ollison was not given much to do. Since the Falcons are broke, they will need to find replacements in the draft. Here is how that has worked under Thomas Dimitroff.

We keep going with our offseason trivia. Yesterday’s question is just begging for you to answer Jalen Collins.