The Atlanta Falcons will be among the teams vying for the richest prize of free agency - Houston Texans defensive end / linebacker Mario Williams, according to NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora:
"I'd look for them to be aggressive," LaCanfora added, citing the team's heavy pursuit of pass rusher Charles Johnson last summer.
The Falcons certainly won't be alone - Williams' effectiveness as a traditional edge pass rusher from the 4-3, combined with his success (when healthy) in 2011 as an outside linebacker in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme, combined with the league's rebranding to a pass-first league makes Williams the most coveted player on the market this offseason. Dallas, Seattle, San Diego and New England are all among the rumored suitors for Williams.
The Falcoholic endorses the idea strongly, but is hesitant to believe Atlanta can actually land Williams:
The Falcons could be and may well be outbid for Super Mario, but the mere fact that they're going to be in on him is encouraging. If the team was content to roll with their current cast of defensive ends, I'd be concerned about Thomas Dimitroff's mental health. There's young, talented players there who could take the leap, but for a team with real playoff ambitions and only one more year of Tony Gonzalez, that's a big risk to take.
Williams has injury issues that the Falcons will need to vet before they sign him, but he's the crown jewel of free agency and an instant upgrade for the team's pass rush that they so very, very sorely need. I don't know how many other ways I can possibly say I support this.
For more on the Atlanta Falcons, be sure to check out The Falcoholic and SB Nation's NFL page.