Antone Smith was one of the only bright spots for the Atlanta Falcons in 2014. For as consistent as the offense was, Smith was able to breakthrough and built a reputation as a big playmaker all while making under a million dollars on his contract. With Kyle Shanahan coming in to run the offense under Dan Quinn at head coach, he is prepared to highlight the ground game which means re-signing Smith is a priority.
Smith was a pure bargain for the Falcons last season working off an expiring contract of $767,750. In return, Smith gave Atlanta five touchdowns off just 36 touches. He averaged 51 yards on scoring plays before ending his season injured with a broken leg against the Carolina Panthers. According to ESPN's Vaughn McClure, Smith is value the Falcons cannot let get away in free agency. If he had kept up his pace, the running back would have had a season comparable to Darren Sproles who made three times as much as Smith. The Falcons can offer the running back a deal worth at least $2 million with incentives and it be bargain considering how versatile he is on the field.
At this point, Devonta Freeman is the only guarantee to return to the Falcons backfield in 2015. Shanahan has already taken the time to praise the rookie, noting he was fan of his coming out of college. Jacquizz Rodgers is scheduled to be a free agent and unlikely to return while Steven Jackson is at risk of getting cut. The Falcons would save big dropping the veteran's $3.5 million salary as he simply is not the workhorse Shanahan is looking to acquire.
"There's no absolute. I've had big guys. I've had smaller guys. I'll take any type of guy. I think Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch are pretty good backs that are pretty big. That doesn't mean I don't want LeSean McCoy," Shanahan said, via ESPN.com. "So, I think any type of back can succeed in this system. But the type of guys you want are guys who can put their foot in the ground, get downhill. You do want guys who can create arm tackles and then run through them. I'm not looking for a guy that you have to give 30 carries to get 100 yards. You want guys who get downhill, who get over 4.0 yards a carry and they move the chains for you."
Now Peterson, Lynch and McCoy are merely long shots for the Falcons. Could the team make a run at free agents like DeMarco Murray? Overpaying an aging running back is not a mistake the Falcons can afford to make twice. Getting someone like Mark Ingram or CJ Spiller could be the workhorse the team wants as long as the contract is right.
