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Falcons Agree to Terms With DE Ray Edwards

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Ray Edwards.

A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Edwards would sign a five-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because teams can’t officially sign free agents until 6 p.m. Friday.

Edwards, who spent the last five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, fills a major void on the Falcons defensive line. He had 16.5 sacks the past two years and gives Atlanta another pass-rushing threat along with John Abraham.

Earlier Friday, the Falcons cleared $7.8 million in cap room by cutting defensive end Jamal Anderson and receiver Michael Jenkins.

Falcons Add Depth at Linebacker With Dent

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have added depth at linebacker with only their second pick in the NFL draft.

The Falcons had to be patient after moving up 21 spots to No. 6 overall and drafting Alabama receiver Julio Jones in the first round. After waiting 85 picks, Atlanta picked Georgia linebacker Akeem Dent in the third round on Friday night.

Dent provides insurance for the Falcons, who have Stephen Nicholas and 34-year-old Mike Peterson as free agents.

Dent (6-1, 233) led Georgia with 126 tackles and had 2½ sacks as a senior.

Dent started 29 games at Georgia, playing both outside and inside. He was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference pick as a senior.

Falcons GM Dimitroff Aims for ‘Normal Draft’

ATLANTA (AP) — Thomas Dimitroff is determined to make this a normal NFL draft.

Lockout? No lockout? Dimitroff insists the league’s labor unrest won’t be a factor when he leads his fourth draft as the Falcons’ general manager. Atlanta has the No. 27 overall selection in the first round on Thursday night.

Dimitroff concedes it has been an unusual offseason. He can’t negotiate with free agents, and he says “much uncertainty” remains about what will follow the three-day NFL draft.

He says it is more important than ever to make sure this is “like any normal draft” for the Falcons, who are coming off a 13-win season.

Dimitroff says he’s looking for explosive players. Defensive end is a top need. The Falcons might look for a wide receiver early in the draft.