Will the Falcons consider a free agent CB signing with so much uncertainty at the position?

The Falcons, like every other NFL team, are facing the specter of an NFL season where they have very little prep time. Players are staying in shape at home and perhaps practicing together in small groups, but organized training camp might be abbreviated and preseason certainly will be, if either of those things happen at all.

I have had A.J. Terrell penciled into a starting job this entire time, but the more things melt away, the more I wonder if the Falcons might take a look at their very young, promising cornerback corps and conclude that they need help this year. Perhaps Terrell, Oliver, and Sheffield won’t be ready to play at an extremely high level out of the gate without the reps they need—it’s a virtual lock at least one of them won’t—and that could encourage Atlanta to dip into free agency.

Matthew Tabeek tackled this question in his latest mailbag, singling out Dre Kirkpatrick as a name to watch and mentioning Logan Ryan as a player fans keep bringing up. Either one would be a solid, starting-caliber veteran addition, as would Darqueze Dennard and (to a lesser extent, but fitting given who he was drafted by) Akeem King. They’d also all add significant experience to a cornerback group with very little outside of the great Blidi Wreh-Wilson.

If the Falcons are going down this road, we likely won’t see it until early August, when everyone’s at camp and the team gets a firsthand look at their cornerback group. Doing so before then would risk them spending quite a bit of cash on a player who might not be needed for a season that might not even be coming. Don’t be the least bit surprised, however, if a veteran corner (and another kicking option) are the additions for a Falcons team not expected to make many more.