Falcons bring back DE Steven Means to bolster line depth

The Falcons are heading into 2020 free agency with one sure thing on their defensive line (Grady Jarrett) and one semi-proven pass rusher (Takk McKinley). Everyone else is a veteran player coming off a lousy year (Allen Bailey) or a young player in search of a chance (Deadrin Senat, John Cominsky, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner).

In light of that, it’s going to be important for this team to add starting-caliber talent and add more proven depth. Re-enter Steven Means.

Means did some nice work in his limited chances in 2018, picking up a sack and three tackles for loss in just eight games. He was re-signed by the Falcons heading into 2019, but suffered an injury over the summer that cost him the entire year. Assuming he’s healthy—and I’m assuming he is, since he’s re-signing—Means is at worst an extremely capable reserve. I bet he’ll find his way into playing time regardless of who the Falcons pick up the rest of the way.

Warmly welcome Means back and hope this is just the opening salvo in a long line of moves along the defensive front, where Atlanta stands the best chance of truly transforming their defense for the better this offseason.