ATLANTA — In a move to strengthen their defensive lineup, the Atlanta Falcons have inked a one-year contract valued at $10 million with veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd. This information comes from a source familiar with the talks, who provided details on the condition of anonymity as the agreement has not yet been officially announced.
Floyd found himself negotiating with the Falcons shortly after parting ways with the San Francisco 49ers. The 32-year-old player made a notable impact last season with the 49ers, securing 8 1/2 sacks through all 17 games. Despite recording one of the lower pass rush win rates according to data from Pro Football Focus, Floyd is expected to play a crucial role in Atlanta’s strategy to enhance their pass-rushing capabilities. The Falcons have been focused on boosting this aspect of their game, having finished near the bottom of the league with only 31 sacks in the 2024 season.
With 66 1/2 career sacks to his name—including 48 over the past five seasons—Floyd’s return to his home state of Georgia also marks a homecoming for the player. Having been a first-round draft choice by the Chicago Bears in 2016 after an impressive college football stint at the University of Georgia, Floyd’s journey returns full circle. Notably, during his draft year in Chicago, Ryan Pace, who now serves as vice president of football operations/player personnel for the Falcons, was the general manager.
This move also reunites Floyd with Falcons’ head coach Raheem Morris, under whom Floyd played during his tenure with the Los Angeles Rams from 2020 to 2022, with Morris serving as the Rams’ defensive coordinator during that period.
The Falcons demonstrated an active approach in free agency on Tuesday, securing another acquisition with linebacker Divine Deablo on a two-year agreement. Deablo contributed significantly in 14 games for the Raiders last season, amassing 63 tackles after recording 106 tackles across 15 games in 2023.
With these strategic additions, the Falcons are clearly focused on strengthening their defensive capabilities heading into the next NFL season.
