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NFL Free Agency: Breaking Down Each Team’s Biggest Offseason Need

By Peter Panacy

Sep 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) reacts after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) reacts after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley (44) runs during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley (44) runs during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Falcons

Projected Cap Space: $17,881,023

Biggest Need: Defensive Line

If the Atlanta Falcons learned anything from their loss in Super Bowl LI, it’s having a deep and promising defense goes a long way in ensuring comebacks never happen.

Atlanta does have some young pieces on this side of the ball. 2016 was a great coming-out party for edge rusher Vic Beasley, but he needs some help within the front seven.

At 37 years old, it’s highly unlikely Atlanta brings back pending free-agent Dwight Freeney to anchor the defensive line again in 2017. The same could be said for 35-year-old DT Jonathan Babineaux.

Nick Fairley is one possible option here for the Falcons, as Scott Carasik of Falcons Wire pointed out: