So. Yep. Time to move on to next year, yes? In addition to coaching staff evaluations, the Atlanta Falcons have quite a few personnel calls to make. For one, defensive end John Abraham, the franchise's all-time sacks leader who put up more sacks than any other two 2011 Falcons combined, could be leaving us.
@johnabraham55 Damn ima free agent.Never truly been through this.If this my last game as a falcon I wana say I loved every min and thank you for the love
By Rotoworld's count, here are Atlanta's other 2012 free agents:
- Quarterback Chris Redman
- Running back Jason Snelling
- Running back Antone Smith (exclusive rights)
- Wide receiver Harry Douglas
- Tight end Michael Palmer (exclusive rights)
- Center Todd McClure
- Defensive tackle Vance Walker (restricted)
- Linebacker Mike Peterson
- Linebacker Curtis Lofton
- Cornerback Brent Grimes
- Safety Thomas DeCoud
- Kick returner Eric Weems
- Long snapper Joe Zelenka
Last year, Snelling signed a one-year deal after testing the waters and Grimes was signed to a lean one-year tender as a restricted free agent. Weems also signed a one-year contract as a RFA, and Peterson was also signed just for 2011.
That so many critical players are due at once is actually a testament to Thomas Dimitroff's first draft class. Most of the names that likely leaped out at you while reading that list came from the 2008 draft. Now, without very many draft picks to work with, the test will be to see which of those players have earned second contracts.