The Atlanta Falcons hired a new head coach in Raheem Morris, but they stuck with incumbent general manager Terry Fontenot this offseason. Together, Morris and Fontenot will determine which internal free agents the Falcons will attempt to retain after a disappointing 7-10 finish in 2023.
Atlanta should have roughly $25 million in available cap space this offseason before restructuring any existing deals. Let’s review the top incumbent FAs the Falcons will consider over the next month.
Who Are the Atlanta Falcons’ 2024 Free Agents?
CB Jeff Okudah
Atlanta shipped a fifth-round pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Okudah last offseason, hoping the former No. 3 overall pick could re-establish himself as a starting-caliber corner. While Okudah started nine games, he was as inconsistent as ever, making it difficult for the Falcons to rely on him moving forward.
Moreover, fourth-round rookie Clark Phillips III stepped in for Okudah near the end of the season and produced, allowing only 175 receiving yards on 231 coverage snaps and 29 targets. Giving Phillips more opportunities in 2024 while signing a veteran CB to start alongside A.J. Terrell might be preferable to re-upping Okudah.
DL Calais Campbell
After playing primarily on the interior during his three-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens, Campbell was a true edge defender in 2023. The 37-year-old spent 447 of his 695 defensive snaps aligned outside the tackle while managing 6.5 sacks and 42 total pressures.
Atlanta will run a new defense in 2024 under Morris and first-year DC Jimmy Lake, but any team can use a veteran like Campbell, who still has pass-rushing juice and remains dominant against the run. While the Falcons are eager for Campbell to re-sign next season, he’s yet to decide on retirement.
RB Cordarrelle Patterson
How much does Patterson have left in the tank? He was featured heavily for the Falcons in 2021 and 2022, totaling more than 140 carries each season. But Patterson’s role was significantly reduced after Atlanta drafted fellow RB Bijan Robinson eighth overall in 2023, and C-Patt finished with just 59 touches.
With Robinson and Tyler Allgeier ahead of him on the Falcons’ backfield depth chart, the 32-year-old Patterson could explore other opportunities around the league. Wherever he lands, it’s difficult to imagine Patterson landing a $5+ million annual salary on his next contract.
WR Van Jefferson
Jefferson received 89 targets for the Los Angeles Rams during their 2021 Super Bowl campaign, but the former second-round pick fell out of favor over the past two years before being shipped to the Falcons last October in a swap of late 2025 selections.
Jefferson and Morris overlapped in Los Angeles, and Atlanta needs more wideouts alongside Drake London. He could make sense as a complementary piece for the Falcons, especially as a deep threat. Jefferson’s average depth of target eclipsed 14 yards in all three of his seasons with the Rams, while he averaged more than 15 yards per reception in 2021 and 2022.
EDGE Bud Dupree
The Falcons inked Dupree to a one-year deal in April, hoping they’d get a bit of pass-rushing presence out of the former Pittsburgh Steeler and Tennessee Titan. While Dupree played over 700 defensive snaps and tied Campbell for the team lead with 6.5 sacks, his underlying metrics weren’t as encouraging.
Dupree posted just an 11.1% pressure rate, per Sports Info Solutions. Meanwhile, he won just 6.6% of his pass-rushing attempts, per Pro Football Focus, finishing 99th among 118 qualified edge defenders in PRWR. Atlanta needs to get younger and more dynamic on defense, and Dupree fits neither bill.
Other Falcons 2024 Free Agents
- QB Logan Woodside
- FB Keith Smith
- WR KhaDarel Hodge
- WR Mack Hollins
- WR Scotty Miller
- OT Ethan Greenridge
- OT Storm Norton
- OL Matt Hennessy
- TE Feleipe Franks (restricted free agent)
- TE MyCole Pruitt
- EDGE Kentavius Street
- DT Joe Gaziano
- DT Albert Huggins
- LB Andre Smith
- CB Tre Flowers
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Free Agent Rankings
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