Dwight Freeney to Sign with Falcons: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

It’s 2016, and linebacker Dwight Freeney just signed another new contract. That is a testament to his overall skill set and durability as he prepares for another season at the age of 36.

Freeney apparently showed enough with the Arizona Cardinals down the stretch of the 2015 campaign that the Atlanta Falcons are planning to sign him to a one-year deal on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network confirmed the news, adding he chose the Falcons over the Cincinnati Bengals. 

This signing comes after Kelsey Conway of the Falcons’ official website reported Atlanta had a visit with Freeney at the end of May, as it looked to add depth to a defense that finished dead last in the NFL with 19 sacks during the 2015 campaign.

The fact Arizona didn’t bring him back comes as something of a surprise considering Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said on a radio appearance after his team lost to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game that rushing the passer would be a priority in 2016. 

Darren Urban of the Cardinals’ official website provided the details:

Asked what the first thing is on his priority list, Keim didn’t hesitate: ‘Create a pass rush.’ The Cardinals didn’t do that enough, either last night or most of the season, and Keim noted that when a team has to blitz a lot to do so, problems can easily happen. He acknowledged the …

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