Falcons bring back LB and ace special teamer LaRoy Reynolds

Between 2016 and 2017, LaRoy Reynolds played in 25 games and around 45% of the special teams snaps, serving as a valuable reserve at linebacker for a team that found good use for his versatility and physicality. This Falcons team is apparently in need of both of those things again, because they’re re-signed Reynolds.

This move gives the Falcons a little bit of depth at linebacker, something they did not previously have after De’Vondre Campbell left and Kemal Ishmael was allowed to walk in free agency. Before this, it was just Deion Jones, Foye Oluokun, and Ahmad Thomas, so Oluokun can help mitigate the losses at linebacker and on special teams.

Reynolds only got a little bit of return on defense over the past two seasons with the Eagles and Bengals, playing 1% and 4% of the defensive snaps over those two years. He also played over 70% of the special teams snaps for his two teams over 2018 and 2019, and that points to his real value for a Falcons team that let Ishmael walk and could always use more competent special teamers. Unless the Falcons are addressing linebacker further via the draft or free agency, chances are good that Reynolds will be a top backup there and will get at least some run in 2020.

This is another smart little signing for a team that needs a ton of them. Welcome back, LaRoy Reynolds!