Grady Jarrett went down with a season-ending knee injury a few weeks ago, and Ryan Nielsen’s unit has struggled in recent weeks.
The Falcons defense has given up late leads to the Vikings, led by Josh Dobbs, who had less than a week of experience in Minnesota, and the Cardinals, led by Kyler Murray, who made his 2023 debut, in the last two games.
Nielsen’s pass rush has plummeted without Jarrett, which was exacerbated when David Onyemata was ruled out of the game on Sunday. The Falcons did acquire Kentavious Street at the trade deadline, which has proven to be a good move, but the defensive front could still use some help.
According to Jeremy Fowler, one potential free agent target is Akiem Hicks, who has had discussions with multiple teams as interest in him remains high.
Given Ryan Pace’s familiarity with Hicks from their time together in Chicago, I could see the Falcons being among those interested.
The former Bears defender had 30.5 sacks, made the Pro Bowl, and was praised for his fierce competitiveness in Chicago. He won’t provide much of a pass rush anymore, but the Falcons could use another body in their defensive line rotation.
He most recently played for the Buccaneers in 2022 after missing 19 games in his final three seasons with the Bears.
He most recently played for the Buccaneers in 2022 after missing 19 games in his final three seasons with the Bears. It’s not uncommon for a big-bodied lineman to suffer from injuries, so he might not be able to play anymore. However, it is worth considering.
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