With three defensive linemen currently out with injuries, earlier this week it was reported that Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn would meet with general manager Thomas Dimitroff to discuss adding some help.

Help may soon be on the way.

On Monday, the team put Jack Crawford on injured reserve and took a look at five free agent defensive ends and one linebacker, according to a report by D. Orlando Ledbetter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Falcons, who have an open roster sport after placing Jack Crawford (torn biceps) on injured reserved, worked out six players. . . Defensive end Sterling Bailey (Georgia), linebacker Lavar Edwards (Louisiana State), defensive end Pat O’Connor (Eastern Michigan), defensive end Devin Taylor (South Carolina), defensive end Nicholas Williams (Samford), defensive end Jonathan Woodward (Central Arkansas).

Baily is obviously the name that will jump out most to Falcons fans. In 34 career games at Georgia, he posted 107 tackles, 2.5 sacks and seven passes deflected. He went undrafted in 2016 and has been bouncing around on various practice squads ever since.

Expect an update if and when Atlanta signs somebody.

The Falcons were widely expected to sign a defensive lineman this week in the wake of injuries to Courtney Upshaw, Vic Beasley and Jack Crawford, who is out for the season.

Last Monday, the team worked out five free agent defensive ends, including former Georgia Bulldog Sterling Bailey.

Nobody was signed before the team went on break for the bye and speculation was that they’d announce a move today when they re-opened for business.

As it turns out, the move is no move.

According to a report by Vaughn McClure at ESPN, coach Dan Quinn feels good about where his team is at and has chosen not to add another DL.

Maybe Quinn is just talking up his young defensive line and none of the prospects they brought in panned out. Maybe he should feel perfectly confident given the depth the unit now has.

Don’t forget two years ago Atlanta finished last in the NFL in sacks. Now they have several players who can get after a quarterback from both the edge and the inside. Grady Jarrett has continued his hot-streak that began at the Super Bowl and is playing defensive tackle as well as anyone in the league right now. Dontari Poe is being exactly what Atlanta hoped he’d be and Takkarist McKinley is coming along just fine. It’s a stacked unit.

Some Falcons fans may be eager to hear news of Dwight Freeney’s return, but for now they should be happy that Quinn feels they don’t need him.

The Atlanta Falcons defense has been run on heavily in their last two games, both losses coming against opponents they were favored against at home. To help plug up their leaky run defense, Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff are looking to the free agent market.

According to a release by the team, they have signed defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin.

The Falcons signed defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin. . . a former sixth-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2008, spent his first five seasons in Cleveland playing in 72 games. He recorded nine sacks, 227 total tackles, four passes defended, one interception, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

Rubin has spent the last two years starting at DT for Quinn’s old team, the Seattle Seahawks. During that time, he posted 75 combined tackles, three sacks and three forced fumbles.

Rubin is already practicing and should see some playing time backing up starters Grady Jarrett and Dontari Poe, but it’s unknown if he will suit up for Sunday night’s game against the New England Patriots at this time.

To make room for Rubin on the roster, the Falcons waived Taniela Tupou.

The Atlanta Falcons will be without rookie linebacker Duke Riley for the next several weeks, as he’s expected to undergo knee surgery.

To help fill the void, the Falcons will look to a familiar face.

According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, Atlanta has signed former linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.

Weatherspoon later confirmed the news with ESPN’s Vaughn McClure.

Originally a first-round pick by Atlanta in the 2010 NFL draft, Weatherspoon has played in 65 career games, mostly with the Falcons. Unfortunately, injuries have taken a major toll on his playing time and he has missed a total of 47 games, including the entire 2014 season with an Achilles tear.

After that he spent a year in Arizona and returned to Atlanta last season, appearing in four games before going down with yet another Achilles injury against Carolina. He has totaled 246 tackles, eight sacks and 15 pass deflections in his career.

Expect him to split time at Riley’s former spot along with Kemal Ishmael.

You knew eventually somebody was going to call old man Dwight Freeney up and invite him back for one more round. Many people assumed that would be the Atlanta Falcons, since he spent last season with them.

As it turns out, Dan Quinn’s old team will be getting the master of the spin move on their side for the rest of the season.

According to a report by Adam Schefter at ESPN, Freeney has agreed to a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle needed to add more help at defensive end with Cliff Avril being put on injured reserve recently due to a neck injury.

Freeney joins Michael Bennett, Frank Clark and Sheldon Richardson on a defensive line that’s still stacked even with Avril out for the rest of the year.

The Falcons will get a chance to see Freeney Week 11, when they visit the Seahawks for Monday Night Football.

This one is going to sting for a lot of Falcons fans.

Last season veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney brought a big boost of energy and experience to Atlanta’s talented but young defensive line. Like he always has, Freeney got pressure on opposing QBs with his spin moves and other tricks he’s learned over the course of his 16-year NFL career.

More than that, Freeney helped the other Falcons pass rushers develop their game, specifically Vic Beasley Jr., who wound up leading the league in sacks and forced fumbles.

Many Atlanta fans wanted Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff to bring Freeney back at some point this year, but Quinn never appeared too eager despite maintaining contact. Asked over the summer if he would consider re-signing Freeney, Quinn said he’d prefer that he go through the whole offseason program. He later walked those comments back and said he was open to the idea but nothing ever came of it. Maybe at some point the Falcons would have brought Freeney back on board, but it’s too late now.

Last week the Seattle Seahawks signed Freneey to help fill the void left behind by Cliff Avril, who is on injured reserve with a neck injury.

According to a local radio host, Freeney says Quinn showed interest, but also thought the team was dragging its feet, which is why he decided to sign with Seattle.

Quinn may end up getting some flak for this, especially if one of his current defensive ends goes down due to injury.

As a practical matter, teams pretty much cannot have enough defensive line depth in today’s NFL, especially in a division that features four above-average quarterbacks.

It’s also telling that the Falcons held no trade talks before Tuesday’s deadline, meaning Quinn is quite happy with his current team.

Quinn gets points for loyalty, but it’s hard not to wonder if they’ll come to regret not playing the market more aggressively before the stretch run.

The Atlanta Falcons hosted four free agent defensive backs at Flowery Branch yesterday, including cornerback Byron Maxwell, who worked with Dan Quinn before in Seattle.

Here’s the full list of players the Falcons worked out yesterday, according to a report by Vaughn McClure at ESPN.

Maxwell was one of four defensive backs the Falcons worked out Monday, which typically indicates an injury concern. The other three were Marcus Cromartie who was last with the Houston Texans, Robertson Daniel who was last with the Baltimore Ravens, and Jeremy Boykins who was last with the Tennessee Titans.

Maxwell certainly knows Quinn’s system well.

Then again, he’s fallen out of favor quickly everywhere he didn’t have Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman backing him up. His coverage skills are average on a good day and he’s not exactly what you’d call a ball-hawk, either. McClure followed up his report stating Atlanta would not sign Maxwell at this time, but would not rule it out.

As for the other three, this news is somewhat puzzling.

As McClure noted, Atlanta does not have any notable injuries in their secondary right now and they’ll also soon be getting cornerback Jalen Collins back from suspension.

More than that, the Falcons’ DBs have played relatively well this season. Desmond Trufant has had some off-moments in coverage, but other than that the unit is solid.

There must be some sort of method to Quinn’s madness, but it’s tough to tell exactly what he’s looking for right now other than answers.

The Falcons front office was busy today, making several changes to both their active roster and practice squad.

According to a release by the team, Atlanta has waived kicker Mike Meyer and linebacker Jermaine Grace. They also added quarterback Garrett Grayson to the practice squad.

Meyer has been off and on Atlanta’s practice squad a few times this year whenever Matt Bryant has not been feeling 100 percent, but so far he hasn’t had to actually step up in his place. Grace was a standout in the preseason and a fan favorite after going undrafted. However, with Sean Weatherspoon re-joining the team his spot has been marginalized.

That’s not all. According to a separate report by Vaughn McClure at ESPN, the Falcons also plucked running back Terrence Magee off the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.

Atlanta needed more depth at running back with Devonta Freeman concussed and fifth-round pick Brian Hill being signed by the Cincinnati Bengals, but expect Tevin Coleman and Terron Ward to continue getting most of the action until Freeman clears the protocol.

The Falcons have a slight punter problem this week and may be looking to outside help for a temporary solution.

Heading into Monday night’s matchup with Seattle, punter Matt Bosher was listed as questionable with an ankle issue.

Bosher’s injury couldn’t have been helped by what happened on the field.

Atlanta’s kickoff coverage units struggled once again and got absolutely burned by Tyler Lockett on several occasions. Bosher himself had to lay a few hits on Lockett in order to prevent him from scoring.

Now, it sounds like Bosher’s status may be up in the air for this week’s upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

According to a report by Howard Balzer, the Falcons worked out free agent punter Matt Wile today.

Wile played college ball at Michigan and went undrafted after leaving the Wolverines in 2014.

Last season, Wile played one game with Atlanta and three more with the Arizona Cardinals. Wile also has experience kicking field goals, so he could be doubly useful since Matt Bryant is also not 100 percent.

The Falcons probably should have done this last week, but better late than never.

Even though Desmond Trufant has returned to practice after being cleared from the concussion protocol, Atlanta is still short at cornerback with Brian Poole limited by a back injury.

To help shore up their depth at the position, yesterday the Falcons signed free agent Leon McFadden.

The team announced the transaction on their official Twitter account.

Originally a third-round pick by the Cleveland Browns back in 2013, McFadden has yet to really find a home in the NFL. He’s only started twice and played a total of 34 games for four different teams, posting 21 tackles and two passes defensed.

Don’t expect to see much of McFadden unless C.J. Goodwin, Blidi Wreh-Wilson or another backup corner goes down.

To make room for McFadden on the roster, Atlanta waived running back Terrence Magee, who was made expendable by Devonta Freeman’s return.

Perhaps the biggest free agency decision for the Atlanta Falcons this offseason is what to do about defensive tackle Dontari Poe.

Poe signed with Atlanta in March on a one-year, $7.5 million deal. That turned out to be a bargain for the Falcons and a career-revitalizing contract for Poe, who proved he can be a legitimate interior pass rusher again.

During the 2017 regular season, Poe collected 39 combined tackles and 2.5 sacks. It was his best year since he was a Pro Bowler with Kansas City back in 2014. Poe’s presence helped the Falcons’ front seven become one of the top units in football.

Now, Poe is no doubt looking to cash in with a long-term contract.

Asked by Falcons.com reporter Kelsey Conway whether he wants to come back to Atlanta, Poe replied hopefully but conceded it’s still a business decision.

Poe is 27 years old and will be entering his seventh year in the NFL in 2018.

The Atlanta Falcons are rich with young talent with an experienced, proven quarterback leading the way. The best teams in the NFL sustain success by continuing to address weaknesses and build on strengths each offseason, though.

With approximately $17 million in cap space currently, according to Over the Cap, the Falcons should have some money to spend in free agency this year, especially if they sign Matt Ryan to a mega-deal as expected.

Here’s a look at six potential free agent targets for Atlanta this offseason, focusing in on the positions that need the most improvement.

Tight Ends

Tyler Eifert

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Eifert has a top-flight skill set for a tight end. However, his inability to stay healthy is an issue. He played just two games last season but has been an excellent playmaker for Andy Dalton and the Bengals when healthy. His extensive injury history could knock down his price tag a bit, and his upside is huge if he can stay on the field. Austin Hooper is still young, but he isn’t as explosive or as sure-handed as Eifert.

Jimmy Graham

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Graham would be a perfect fit in Atlanta as a pass-catching tight end to open up things over the middle of the field. He’d be a huge upgrade over Austin Hooper as an offensive weapon, especially in the red zone. Graham had 520 yards last season for the Seahawks and 10 touchdowns. He may be too pricey for Atlanta, but he’d add something it doesn’t currently possess: someone who demands the same attention as Julio Jones at the goal line.

Let’s talk about potential free agent targets for the Falcons in 2018.

We begin this year’s series of potential free agent profiles with Titans defensive lineman DaQuan Jones. Here’s a look at his career stats.

Career Stats:

Pros:

At just 26 years old, Jones’ best days are ahead of him. He also appears to be rounding into form.

Last season was Jones’ best in the NFL after being picked in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the Titans. He tallied a career-high 3.5 sacks in just 12 games. Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 42 among all defensive linemen.

Cons:

Jones played well in 2017 before his season ended early due to a torn biceps injury. He has been playing left defensive end in Dick LeBeau’s 3-4 scheme the last few years and adjusting to defensive tackle in Dan Quinn’s preferred 4-3 base may be an obstacle, but he does at least have the physical skill-set to thrive in that role.

Also, aside from Tennessee, the offensive lines around the AFC South division leave a whole lot to be desired. Jones dominated against Indianapolis this year and both Jacksonville and Houston don’t have anything special going on. Switching to tougher NFC South competition could be another potentially-difficult transition for him.

He wouldn’t be a bust but it’s not hard to imagine Jones getting lost in the shuffle as part of coach Dan Quinn’s relatively-deep defensive line rotation.

Probability:

Medium

If either Adrian Clayborn, Dontari Poe or both wind up not returning to Atlanta in 2018, Jones could play a low-cost part in replacing their production. However, there will be several other reasonably-priced options on the market who can do the same things he can.

With Atlanta’s season over, we’ve begun examining potential free agent targets for the 2018 season. Last week, we profiled Titans defensive lineman DaQuan Jones.

Today, we take a look at Dolphins defensive end William Hayes. Check out his career stats below.

Career Stats:

Pros:

Hayes is a low-risk, potentially high-upside signing who has been effective during his nine seasons in the league. Despite just one sack last season, he’s averaged over 4.5 sacks per season over the past six years.

He will likely come cheap and be a guy that can add depth and leadership to a young group. With Vic Beasley moving back to defensive end permanently and Adrian Clayborn’s future with the Falcons up in the air, Hayes could help the team continue to ease in last year’s first-round pick, Takkarist McKinley.

Cons:

Hayes is 32 years old and he’s coming off of a season-ending hamstring surgery after just 10 games in Miami last year. Atlanta has been trending younger on defense and it would seem that Hayes doesn’t fit the Falcons’ speed-centered model they have instituted since Dan Quinn arrived.

It’s impossible to know how much Hayes has left in the tank or his interest in coming to a team where he’d be a backup/situational player at best. With McKinley and Beasley in the fold, it’s clear the Falcons have their starters in place for the future. Also, it appears the Dolphins want him back.

Probability:

Medium

Hayes would make a lot of sense, and with the mileage on his body, it’d likely be a team-friendly, one-year deal. As we’ve documented over the past weeks, it’s unlikely the Falcons can afford to keep both Dontari Poe and Adrian Clayborn. This could leave them slightly thin along the defensive line, making Hayes an ideal depth signing.

With Atlanta’s season over, we’ve begun examining potential free agent targets for the 2018 season. Monday we looked at Dolphins defensive end William Hayes.

Today, we examine a player that would help bolster the Falcons’ offensive line. Here’s a look at Panthers guard Andrew Norwell.

Pros:

Andrew Norwell was the third-ranked guard last year, according to Pro Football Focus, and would be an immediate upgrade to the Falcons’ somewhat shaky guard situation. He’s just 26 years old, plus he excels in both run-blocking and pass-protection. Norwell could thrive playing on either side next to Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, potentially giving the Falcons one of the top offensive lines in the league. There’s an added bonus if Atlanta is able to steal him away from division-rival Carolina, another wild-card team from 2017.

Career Stats:

Cons:

The amount of money Norwell would command on the open market could be out of Atlanta’s price range. The price tag may be upwards of $10 million per year, and while that’s the going rate for a top-tier free agent guard, the Falcons aren’t super cap-rich and have faith in their ability to develop their own players.

Another potential downside would be hindering Atlanta’s ability to re-sign running back Tevin Coleman next offseason, who Thomas Dimitroff said the team intends to keep at his season-ending press conference.

Probability:

Low

Norwell would be a great fit, but his asking price may be too big of a commitment for a team that doesn’t have a ton of cap room. It’s not out of the question, as the team had success signing Alex Mack a few years ago (the third-ranked center in the NFL in 2017). However, a more likely scenario is Atlanta takes someone in the draft or signs a cheaper, short-term free agent.

Our 2018 free agent target profile series continues with Tennessee Titans guard Josh Kline, who may very well be the answer for Atlanta’s well-documented problems at guard.

Pros:

For the past five years, Kline has been a respectable pass protector. According to Pro Football Focus, last season he only allowed 19 quarterback pressures on Marcus Mariota. That’s a lot fewer than Wes Schweitzer allowed at right guard on Matt Ryan. Kline would represent a significant upgrade there.

More importantly, the Falcons are in a tough cap situation and don’t have much money to spend. Kline won’t break the bank like Andrew Norwell or the other high-profile free agents at guard this year. He’s also only missed four games over the last three seasons.

Cons:

Kline recently turned 28 years old, so before too long he will be approaching the age of 30, when most NFL players begin to decline – if their athletic abilities haven’t already significantly fallen off. He’s also not the greatest run blocker of all time and isn’t likely to help spring Devonta Freeman or Tevin Coleman loose for many explosive plays.

Career Stats:

2017 PFF rating: 75.8 – No. 22 among guards

Probability:

High

If the Falcons can convince Kline to sign a cheap one-or-two year prove-it kind of deal, it would be a solid low-cost way of addressing their depth at guard. This sort of under-the-radar signing is right up general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s alley. The real question is how much other interior OL-needy teams are going to offer and if Atlanta can compete.

With Atlanta’s season over, we’ve begun examining potential free agent targets for the 2018 season. So far, we’ve looked at William Hayes, DaQuan Jones, Andrew Norwell and Josh Kline.

Today, we examine Philadelphia Eagles free agent tight end, Trey Burton.

Pros:

Burton is just 26 years old and coming off of a season in which he recorded a career-high five touchdowns. That production would be helpful in the red zone after the Falcons’ struggles in 2017. Burton played second-fiddle to Zach Ertz in Philadelphia and would be a cheap option for Atlanta, without giving up on young Austin Hooper.

After a quiet first three seasons, it appears Burton’s career is on the rise. Not to mention, he’s been a key contributor on special teams for Philadelphia – an area the Falcons could certainly stand to upgrade. He would appear to be a smart signing with limited risk and good upside.

Cons:

Burton has worked his way up from an undrafted free agent in 2014, to a contributor on a Super Bowl team, however, he is not starting material. If the Falcons are looking to seriously upgrade the position from Austin Hooper, they can do better than Burton.

He only has one decent season of production from an offensive standpoint, plus there is no guarantee he would as good, or better than Hooper. Atlanta needs an impact player rather than a depth signing.

Check out his career stats below.

Career Stats:

Probability:

Medium

Signing Burton wouldn’t be the answer to all of Atlanta’s offensive issues. However, he is a good player, who is just coming into his own. Atlanta was atrocious in the red zone and Burton’s five touchdowns would have been tied for the team lead with Mohamed Sanu. For a reasonable salary, Burton is a decent option for the Falcons.

With the Super Bowl in the rear-view mirror, we’ve begun examining potential free agent targets for the Falcons during the 2018 season.

So far, we’ve looked at a bunch of linemen, including William Hayes, DaQuan Jones, Andrew Norwell and Josh Kline as well as Eagles tight end Trey Burton.

Next up, it’s back to the trenches with Seahawks defensive end Dion Jordan.

Pros:

At 27 years old, Jordan still has sleeper potential. A talented edge rusher with elite speed for the position, Jordan finally showed glimpses of his third-overall pick status when he recorded a sack in four out of the final five games last season in Seattle.

Even after the strong finish, he’d most likely be a relatively cheap option due to his history.

Atlanta has some difficult free agent decisions to make regarding multiple defensive linemen and the team may not be able to keep them all. In the event that Jordan becomes available, he’s proven worthy of a legit second chance and could be a solid, low-cost fit for Dan Quinn’s defense.

Cons:

First off, Jordan is a restricted free agent. Pete Carroll sounds pretty enthused about keeping him (when doesn’t he?) and there are also major off-field concerns.

Jordan was suspended after failed drug tests for the entire 2015 season. He was reinstated in 2016 but missed that year too due to injury. He hasn’t played a full year since his rookie season five years ago. While Jordan has undeniable potential, he is far from a sure thing.

Here’s a look at his career numbers.

Career Stats:

Probability:

Low

Jordan, to his credit, looks to have taken a step in right direction that most others in his position haven’t. Overcoming the “bust” label isn’t something you do in five games, but he’s going to get another shot after what he did to finish out 2017. If not Seattle, another team will take a chance on him. The competition could be fierce.

After a loss in the divisional round to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Falcons are on to 2018. With that in mind, we’ve begun to look at potential free agent targets.

On Tuesday, it was Seahawks defensive end Dion Jordan, today we examine defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson.

Pros:

Wilkerson has been a productive defensive end for the New York Jets since being drafted in the first round back in 2011. It’s been reported that New York will release him and just 28 years old, he will most likely be looking to join a contender at this point in his career.

Wilkerson is freakishly strong, with some versatility to play both inside and outside in a Dan Quinn’s hybrid 4-3 scheme. When engaged, he has been a playmaker capable of wrecking havoc. Wilkerson has two seasons with double-digit sacks and has been a tackling machine, with over 400 combined in his seven NFL seasons.

Cons:

Wilkerson is a better fit schematically in a base 3-4 defense like he played in New York. Dan Quinn values speed over size at most positions except defensive tackle, so it’s unclear if Atlanta would covet his talent as much as some of the other teams that could be interested in signing him.

An even bigger concern could be his perceived poor attitude that caused him to fall out of favor with the Jets. He appeared disinterested and some felt he checked out during portions of last season. The Jets haven’t been relevant for most of Wilkerson’s career, so perhaps he just needs a change of scenery.

Career Stats:

Probability:

Low/Medium

The Falcons may be in the market for a defensive lineman with uncertainty regarding some of their free agents at the position. Wilkerson isn’t a great fit on paper but is talented enough overall that Quinn could find a way to utilize him.

The price tag is up for debate. Wilkerson is an established player with a track record of production, yet great players aren’t usually released at 28 years old without some legitimate reasons. If he’s willing to sign a one-year, prove-it type of deal, then he’d be an intriguing addition to an already talented defensive unit.

The Falcons are on to 2018. With that in mind, we’ve begun to look at potential free agent targets for the new league year that begins March 14.

After profiling Eagles tight End Trey Burton last week, today we examine another with Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins.

Pros:

Seferian-Jenkins is coming off a career-best season in terms of catches (50), yards (357) and games played (13) in 2017. The former basketball player is a big, athletic target at 6-foot-5, and is just 25 years old. He has a history with offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and played well when the two were at the University of Washington together.

Falcons starter Austin Hooper disappointed late last season after a strong start. Seferian-Jenkins looks to be rounding into form and would a more consistent receiving threat over the middle and in the red zone. Signing him could take some pressure off of Hooper and open things up for the Falcons’ many other weapons.

Cons:

ASJ hasn’t really done a whole lot in the NFL. He’s flashed some ability in the red zone, with 10 career touchdowns, but hasn’t always stayed healthy. After four seasons in the NFL, he’s never cracked 400 receiving yards.

While 50 catches for a tight end is really solid production, during his three other seasons, he’d never topped 21 catches. Again, he wasn’t out there very much and hasn’t played over ten games except in 2017. If the price tag is too high, he may be too big of a risk.

Career Stats:

Probability:

Medium

His price tag will likely determine whether the Falcons actually consider him. With the Sark connection, plus the fact that he’s a former second-round pick and just 25, he could be a good signing. Investing a lot of money on a long-term contract may not be wise, even with his high upside.