NFC Notes: Falcons, Seahawks, Vikings

Falcons

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff mentioned recently that as they draw closer to signing QB Matt Ryan to a contract extension, they realize how important it is to keep investing in their offensive line.

“We realize more and more [as we are] about ready to sign Matt Ryan in the relatively near future to another contract, we need to make sure offensively in the trenches we are protecting a guy like Matt Ryan and help create that offense that we want to return to being prolific,” Dimitroff said, via AtlantaFalcons.com.

The good news for Atlanta is that Dimitroff believes offensive line is the strength of this year’s draft class.

“I think they will be a really interesting group along the offensive line,” Dimitroff said. “We say that every year. We want to see the offensive line be a good full group as well as the defensive line. I think both of those areas are rich with talent. Not only early talent, I’m talking mid-round talent, so that’s good.

Seahawks

  • Brady Henderson of ESPN writes that if the Raiders end up releasing DE Bruce Irvin this offseason, a reunion with the Seahawks makes a lot of sense.
  • Seattle could obviously use some help at edge rusher and strongside linebacker, which happens to be where Irvin played his final three years with the Seahawks.
  • Plus, Irvin being released would make him a street free agent and wouldn’t count against a team’s compensatory pick formula.

Vikings

  • According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Teddy Bridgewater and the NFLPA are likely to argue that he was healthy enough to be cleared to play for Week 1 last year, which would make the Vikings’ decision to put him on the PUP list improper.
  • This is similar to the argument A.J. McCarron made in his grievance against the Bengals, which he just recently won.
  • Bridgewater is in line to be an unrestricted free agent. However, if it’s determined that the Vikings were in right to place Bridgewater on the PUP, his contract would then toll for the 2018 season.
  • We have him featured in our Top 100  – 2018 NFL Free Agents list.

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