Falcons Sign DE Dwight Freeney To One-Year Deal Worth Up To $4M

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that veteran DE Dwight Freeney is schedule to fly Thursday to Atlanta to sign a one-year deal with Falcons.

• Ed Werder reports that Freeney receives a one-year deal that includes $2 million up front and another $2 million available in incentives.
• Ian Rapoport confirms the report and adds that Freeney chose the Falcons over the Bengals.

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff mentioned last week that they were still looking at Freeney as a potential option for their defensive line along with OLB O’Brien Schofield. However, it looks like they preferred to bring in Freeney, who’s coming off of a productive year in Arizona.

Freeney previously visited with the Bengals and had come up as a speculative option for the Cowboys, who could use help at defense end.

Freeney, 36, is a former first-round pick of the Colts back in 2002. After spending 11 years in Indianapolis, Freeney signed on with the Chargers as a free agent and spent two seasons in San Diego.

Last year, the Cardinals signed him to a one-year contract and were rewarded with a productive year from the veteran pass rusher.

In 2015, Freeney recorded nine tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles over the course of 11 games. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 51 edge rusher out of qualifying 110 players.

We had him featured in our Best Available Free Agents list.