The Atlanta Falcons had money to spend coming into free agency, and when legal tampering open, they immediately set about throwing it around. A team that has scraped together signings with limited cap space suddenly has cap space to spare, and with a mandate to improve the roster, they hit the ground running.
The team reportedly added top-shelf safety Jessie Bates, versatile linebacker and pass rusher Kaden Elliss, defensive tackle and capable pass rusher David Onyemata, and capable pass catching tight end Jonnu Smith via trade. They also re-signed useful pieces like punter Bradley Pinion and fullback Keith Smith, making for a successful first day and an improved defense, at minimum.