Falcons won't overpay to keep Lofton, Abraham

[jtnc]

They won’t be crushed if Curtis Lofton leaves. The middle linebacker is a three-year starter and a fierce tackler, but there’s growing sentiment that he’s a liability against the pass. The question thus becomes: Would you pay $8 million a year for a two-down linebacker? At the right price, the Falcons would love to keep Lofton. If he does depart, they’d give Akeem Dent, the Georgia product taken in Round 3 last year, a long look in the middle.

They won’t spend big to keep Abraham. Of the Falcons’ 33 sacks last season, he produced 9 1/2. But Abraham will turn 34 in May, and he has a history of injury. It’s scary to think that a team incapable of sustaining a pass rush would shed its best pass rusher, but remember what new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan after his hiring: “I’d rather have 10 guys get four sacks than four guys get 10.”

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2012/02/22/heres-what-the-falcons-will-and-wont-do-this-offseason/

A division rival weakening, just what we need. And also no first round pick.

[OneBadassCat]

I wouldn't be opposed to picking up Abraham for a stop gap pass rush solution. He wouldn't have to start, let Hardy take most of the snaps. No body is going to pay Abraham big bucks.

[KaseKlosed]

#teamdur

[jtnc]

I wouldn't be opposed to picking up Abraham for a stop gap pass rush solution. He wouldn't have to start, let Hardy take most of the snaps. No body is going to pay Abraham big bucks.

Yep, exactly what I was thinking. It also helps he was raised in SC and has a home there.

[rayzor]

considering the cap space that the falcons have and the lack of draft picks i think they will probably be big players in FA.

for example, i think abraham might get replaced by someone like cliff avril. not a good thing.

[csx]

In the hypothetical situation that Abraham played for the Panthers, he would start over Hardy.

[Panthers4lyfe]

yeah abraham, johnson, hardy, applewhite, keiser. great rotation.. passing downs have johnson, hardy, keiser, abraham getting after the QB

then janoris jenkins in the 1st

[jtnc]

considering the cap space that the falcons have and the lack of draft picks i think they will probably be big players in FA.

for example, i think abraham might get replaced by someone like cliff avril. not a good thing.

Or Mario Williams. :(

[MadHatter]

considering the cap space that the falcons have and the lack of draft picks i think they will probably be big players in FA.

for example, i think abraham might get replaced by someone like cliff avril. not a good thing.

Exactly. It is silly to think that they would lose players like Abraham and Lofton and not move to replace them in FA.

[mmmbeans]

considering the cap space that the falcons have and the lack of draft picks i think they will probably be big players in FA.

for example, i think abraham might get replaced by someone like cliff avril. not a good thing.

i think there's about a 0% chance avril leaves detroit.

[jtnc]

They're also franchise tagging Grimes, which he has also said that he wants a deal worth more than Dunta Robinson's 57 million dollar contract.

[rayzor]

i think there's about a 0% chance avril leaves detroit.

...someone like...

[mmmbeans]

ok. i don't know of anyone who's like cliff avril that's a FA this year.

[jtnc]

Cliff Avril benefits from Suh and Williams. See how much his sacks jumped since Suh was brought in went from 5.5 sacks to 11 sacks.