The Atlanta Falcons announced that the team will not re-sign defensive lineman Vic Beasley, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. General Manager thanked Vic for his five years of service to the organization.
The #Falcons announce they won’t re-sign former first-rounder Vic Beasley, with GM Thomas Dimitroff saying he wants to “thank Vic for five years of effort on behalf of our organization.” https://t.co/1hR5Y3dWdJ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2020
Beasley, a first round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, spent five seasons in Atlanta. The defensive lineman led the NFL in sacks (15.5) in 2016, but his production would die down. He would record five sacks the next two seasons, while the Falcons recorded the second-fewest sacks in the league this season.
The Clemson product started 60 games for the Falcons during his five years with the team. He finished his Falcons tenure with 156 tackles, 37.5 sacks, 36 tackles for a loss, 11 forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns. Beasley will join fellow Falcons defensive linemen Adrian Clayborn and John Crawford as free agents. All three will become unrestricted free agents when the league new year begins on March 18.
The Falcons could target a pass rusher in the early rounds of this year’s draft to play along side Takk McKinley. Atlanta holds the No. 16 overall pick in the first round, and two other picks in the first two rounds of April’s draft, which will give the team multiple chances for a quality pass rusher.