Atlanta Falcons Could Pursue Former Pro Bowl Pass-Rusher

The Atlanta Falcons surprised a lot of people with how they handled the 2024 NFL offseason. After signing veteran Kirk Cousins in free agency, they selected Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington with their first-round pick.

Penix won’t help the team win games in 2024 and likely not in 2025 either unless something disastrous occurs with Cousins. Playing the long-game with their first-round pick when more pressing needs were on the roster was certainly unexpected.

One of the areas people expected the Atlanta Falcons to address early in the draft was their pass rush. Veterans Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree departed in free agency, signing with the Miami Dolphins.

That left a void when it came to established pass-rushing options to rely on. Rookie third-round pick Bralen Trice certainly has a chance to break into the lineup with only Lorenzo Carter and Arnold Ebiketie ahead of him on the depth chart.

As a result, the Atlanta Falcons have been pitched as a potential landing spot for former Pro Bowl edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report connected Ngakoue to the team in a recent piece about bargain bin free agents who remain available.

“Ngakoue’s injury is probably the biggest reason why he should be available on a budget now. A workout video that Ngakoue posted to social media in May suggests he’s now healthy, but the 29-year-old is still coming off a down season…

The Falcons have long been searching for edge help for years and lost top 2023 sack-producers Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree in free agency,” Knox wrote.

2023 was certainly a down season for Ngakoue, who had only 4.0 sacks in 13 games with the Chicago Bears. Given his track record, betting on a bounce back in 2024 would be a low-risk, high-reward kind of move for the Atlanta Falcons.

Prior to 2023, the Maryland product registered at least 8.0 sacks in all seven seasons in the NFL. Well-traveled at this point in his career, Ngakoue produces wherever he is as a pass-rushing specialist.

The Atlanta Falcons have nothing to lose bringing in a player such as Ngakoue. If things don’t pan out in training camp or he doesn’t look recovered from the injury, they release him and move on.

But, they could find a much-needed upgrade for the team’s pass rush. New head coach Raheem Morris would love to have a specialist of Ngakoue’s caliber to deploy as the Atlanta Falcons defense made strides in 2023 that he is looking to build upon.

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