The Falcons have a few marquee impending free agents that Terry Fontenot will consider bringing back on new deals. Foye Oluokun will likely be the priority because of his instrumental role in Dean Pees’ defense and the difficulty attached to replacing the MIKE of a complicated scheme.
Cordarrelle Patterson will be a highly prioritized free agent as well after totaling over 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s used social media as a tool to voice his desire to return to Atlanta on a new deal, but public campaigning will only get him so far.
Arthur Blank has made no concessions on whether the Falcons will attempt to work out a new deal.
“From our standpoint, we’d love to have [CP] back,” Blank said. “We saw the same thing that you saw on the field. I think this is a very talented player, a very talented athlete. This is a good example of when a coach understands the scheme – which he does, Coach Smith – and he takes an athlete like this and can use him in a variety of ways I think you see the kind of production that he can have. He’s a terrific young man. He’s great with the fans. He’s great in the locker room. He’s a real competitor… I hope that he’ll be a Falcon this time [next] year.”
ATL D’BIRD 