Kyle Shanahan has big plans for the Atlanta Falcons offense that already comes equips with a quarterback ready to start in 2015. Matt Ryan is the franchise quarterback Shanahan has yet to get in his career as an offensive coordinator and he intends to take advantage of it. With Julio Jones, Roddy White and Harry Douglas staying put, the focus shifts to upgrading the tight end position for next year.
Falcons fans likely spent most of this previous remembering the good old days with Tony Gonzalez in at tight end. Mr. Consistency was always there when Ryan needed him and the Falcons simply have failed to replace him since he retired. Atlanta drafted Levine Toilolo out of Stanford in hopes of that helping, but the 6-foot-8 athlete has yet to really be the redzone threat the Falcons hoped to be getting as he averages just 7.7 yards per catch with just two touchdowns in 2014.
The chances Toilolo is released are slim considering the commitment to him is small, but the chances Shanahan chases a big name in free agency are high. The offensive coordinator told the media that he plans on emphasizing the tight end position in the offense and the Falcons need more productive bodies with it.
"I think tight end is always important just because it's hard to have a threat of many runs if a tight end is not out there," Shanahan said, via ESPN.com. "You'd love to go four receivers every single play, or even five receivers, but it makes it a lot easier for the defense when they know you have to throw it. The more times fullbacks go off the field or tight ends go off the field, it limits your run options, which makes you not as balanced. The threat of a tight end who could be out there, which opens up your run game but also is a threat and a matchup in the pass game, it makes a lot easier for a play-caller."
The Falcons will have a few cap casualties coming to the offense which will help the team chase a big name. Jordan Cameron is the immediate favorite considering his past experience with Shanahan and his reported eagerness to leave the Cleveland Browns. However, the tight end has injury history that the Falcons do not want. Jermaine Gresham is a player to watch has he is a solid blocker, but struggles with dropped passes. Julius Thomas is the long shot simply because of contract demands while Niles Paul and Owen Daniels could be strong signings as well.
