Falcons DT David Onyemata 'Pretty Excited' to Play With Grady Jarrett
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Arguably one of the biggest items the Atlanta Falcons needed to take care of in the offseason was finding a defensive tackle to play next to former Pro Bowler Grady Jarrett.
The Falcons wasted little time finding someone, signing former New Orleans Saints defensive lineman David Onyemata to a three-year $35 million contract.
Onyemata expressed his excitement in playing next to one of the league's premier defensive tackles.
"I'm pretty excited," Onyemata told FOX 5. "It takes a lot off at the same time, having someone of that caliber right next to you. So, that's something I'm really looking forward to ... A player like Grady and such the career that he's had to this day, it speaks for itself."
Last season, Onyemata recorded five sacks for the Saints. Had he been on the Falcons, that number would have put him in second place behind Jarrett, who had six.
Onyemata signing with the Falcons continues his working relationship with defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who has been alongside him with the Saints since 2017.
Nielsen's specialty as a defensive coordinator comes with building strong defensive lines, and Onyemata has been part of that formula for years. Bringing some familiarity from Nielsen's schemes in New Orleans and pairing it with Jarrett in Atlanta could have the Falcons defense among the league's most improved units in 2023.
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