Who should stay and who should go for Falcons key free agents

The Falcons will enter this offseason with big question marks about who will return to the team next season. They have big key free agents that they would like to sign, but it is possible that the Falcons will not be able to keep everybody and this is where tough decisions will have to be made. Here is a look at who I think general manager Thomas Dimitroff should keep and who he should let go for the Atlanta Falcons.

John Abraham- No question I think that John Abraham should be resigned to the Falcons. Yes he is 33, and he is coming off a season to where he had only 9.5 sacks, but Abraham is a leader for the Atlanta Falcons and a good teacher to the younger defensive players. I’m sure Abraham will settle for a one-year contract to stay in Atlanta.

Kroy Biermann- Biermann has been a good back up for the Falcons in his four years in the NFL. Biermann brings good energy to the Atlanta Falcons and he has the characteristics that Thomas Dimitroff looks for in his players. I believe Biermann should stay with the Falcons as he is a valuable back up for the Falcons.

Thomas DeCoud- Thomas DeCoud was drafted during the Thomas Dimitroff era and it hasn’t exactly worked out the way the Falcons had hoped. DeCoud plays with a lot of intensity, but too many times he get’s beat down the field and as you saw in the NFC wild card playoffs against the Giants he just gets run over by bigger running backs. I think DeCoud’s time in Atlanta is up.

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Harry Douglas- Known as HD I like Douglas as the Falcons slot receiver. I still think that the Falcons need to draft another receiver to add depth to their receiving corps though. Douglas has plenty of talent and I think he should stay, because I didn’t like how Mike Mularkey used him. I believe that new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter will use Harry Douglas more in his game plan and Douglas will show how good he really is.

Brent Grimes- Clearly the best defensive back the Falcons have on the roster, Thomas Dimitroff should see if he can take away some money from Dunta Robinson’s contract and give it to Brent Grimes. If there is anybody on the Falcons roster deserving of a big pay day it is Brent Grimes. I think the Falcons should do whatever they can to make sure that Grimes stays a Falcon.

Curtis Lofton- Known as “5-0” by his teammates Curtis Lofton is the voice of the Falcons defense. He competes on every play and is a sure tackler. Lofton is the kind of guy that wants the responsibility to be in charge of the defense. Curtis Lofton should stay a Falcon, because he has proven his worth as a second round pick to be one of the premier middle linebackers in all of the NFL.

Todd McClure- I love Todd McClure and everything that he has done for the Atlanta Falcons. He continues to play every game for the Atlanta Falcons, but I think the Falcons have been planning this day with the way they have been drafting offensive lineman the past few years. The Falcons offensive line was just bullied against the Giants in the wild card round of the playoffs as they were not able to get a push on the Giants defensive line. The offensive line will definitely be in for a major overhaul in the offseason and I expect Todd McClure to be apart of that.

This are the key free agents that I think will stay and go for the Atlanta Falcons. Clearly though Thomas Dimitroff has tough decisions ahead of him, but if anybody can do it Thomas Dimitroff can. Arthur Blank has already shown his support of the team by investing a lot in the Falcons and his displeasure with the quick exits in the playoffs. This offseason will be a very big step for the Falcons organization.

By: Steven Virden
ProFootball-fans.com Atlanta Falcons Correspondent