4 Free Agents with Ties to Falcons Coaches Arthur Smith, Dave Ragone
Connections are a valued commodity across the NFL, and the Atlanta Falcons may take that ideal to a different level.
Since coach Arthur Smith and offensive coordinator Dave Ragone arrived in Jan. 2021 from the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears, respectively, the Falcons have added several players from each team - in large part due to the element of familiarity.
Directly from or with experience in Tennessee, Atlanta has acquired quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Logan Woodside, tight ends MyCole Pruitt and Anthony Firkser, receiver Cameron Batson and linebacker Rashaan Evans, among others.
On Chicago's side, the Falcons brought in former general manager and now senior executive Ryan Pace, which has led to an influx of signees, such as running back Cordarrelle Patterson, left guard Elijah Wilkinson and nose tackle Eddie Goldman, before he opted to retire.
Now entering the third offseason with Smith, Ragone and Pace apart of the organization, the Falcons have the second-most cap space league-wide with $56 million, a number that will near $70 million should they release Mariota, as many expect.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has stressed the significance of coaches having familiarity with players, as it gives the team a clear understanding of who and what they're getting, especially in the locker room - something poised to be particularly important as Atlanta looks to spend big money this offseason.
So, which unrestricted free agents from the Titans and Bears could the Falcons sign this spring? Here are four with a varying level of likelihood but strong ties to the staff ...
David Montgomery
Spotrac's projected contract: Three years, $21.6 million ($7.2 million per year)
A 2019 second-round pick by Pace and the Bears out of Iowa State, Montgomery has shown glimpses of being one of the better running backs in the NFL.
The 5-11, 224-pound Montgomery has rushed for at least 800 yards and five touchdowns in each of his four seasons, headlined by a 1,070-yard, eight-score campaign in 2020, the final season in Chicago for both Pace and Ragone.
The question at hand is whether the Falcons would want to spend big on the running back position when Tyler Allgeier just rushed for a rookie franchise record 1,035 yards.
The answer to that question is likely no, but for an organization driven by connections and familiarity, it's easy to see why a team with a run-based offense that has two direct ties to Montgomery could dip its toes in the water.
Taylor Lewan
Released by the Titans on Wednesday, Lewan has had a standout nine-year career after being drafted in the first-round in 2013. A three-time Pro Bowler, the difficulty for Lewan has rarely been on-field product - it's the ability to stay on the field.
The 31-year-old lasted just two games this past season before suffering a torn ACL and hasn't played a full season since 2017. Further, he's strictly played left tackle, where Atlanta has Jake Matthews as the staple at that spot, not right tackle, where there could be a need if Kaleb McGary isn't brought back.
However, Lewan is close with Smith, as the two worked together on Tennessee's offense from 2013 through 2020. Moving to right tackle wouldn't be easy considering everything would be flipped from how he's done it for more than a decade dating back to college, but it would be less taxing for him as a pass blocker, making it an interesting possibility.
Nonetheless, an injury-prone player with little to no experience at right tackle isn't a particularly ideal replacement for McGary, and the Falcons will look elsewhere - though the Smith connection should be remembered.
Nate Davis
Spotrac's projected contract: Three years, $22.4 million ($7.4 million per year)
Perhaps the most interesting player to consider, Davis was drafted by the Titans ahead of Smith's first year as offensive coordinator. He's started 54 of 55 games played since entering the league in 2019, though he's missed 11 contests in that time.
The hurdle to clear is that Davis, like Lewan, would have to switch sides in Atlanta - he played right guard for the Titans but would play left guard for the Falcons, as Chris Lindstrom is coming off an All-Pro season at the former position.
Still, Davis is a sound fit for Smith's offense - here's what ESPN said after ranking him as the No. 41 free agent available ...
"He's a good mover at 320 pounds and can reach and climb in zone schemes, delivering a strike on contact. And Davis will drop anchor to handle power rushers in pass protection.
"While his run-block win rate was below average this season (68.8%), he did rank among the top 25 guards in pass block win rate (93.2)." - Matthew Bowen
Davis allowed only three sacks and one quarterback hit while earning an overall grade of 70.6, per Pro Football Focus. By all accounts, Davis is a considerable upgrade over Wilkinson and isn't expected to be overly pricey, making him an intriguing player to monitor over the coming weeks.
Geoff Swaim
A primarily block-first tight end, Swaim was signed by Tennessee prior to Smith's second year as offensive coordinator. He logged only nine catches for 83 yards but started eight of the 10 games in which he played.
During his eight-year career, Swaim has two seasons with at least 25 receptions and 200 yards; his production as a pass catcher has largely been feast or famine, but the blocking element hasn't.
Swaim is a similar player to current Falcons tight end Parker Hesse, but it's not out of the equation that he's brought in this offseason as Atlanta looks to build depth around star Kyle Pitts.
Ultimately, when looking at offensive free agents with ties to Atlanta's staff, it's a lot of projecting, both fit and need - which just may push the team outside its comfort zone this offseason.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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