BREAKING: Falcons to Sign Saints DL David Onyemata in Free Agency
The Atlanta Falcons' busy legal tampering day has reached a new level.
According to NFL Network, the Falcons have agreed to terms with New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata, bringing one of the top free agency defenders to Atlanta.
The deal is three years, $35 million with $24.5 million guaranteed over the first two years, per NFL Network.
Onyemata, 30, spent the first seven years of his career with the Saints, all but one of which came with new Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen as his positions coach.
The 6-4, 300-pound Onyemata is coming off a season in which he had five sacks, five tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hits across 17 starts, the first time he started each contest.
During his time in New Orleans, Onyemata totaled 23 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and 63 quarterback hits; he's totaled double digit hits in each of the last four seasons.
Onyemata will join a Falcons defense that ranks last in the NFL in sacks over the last two years but features former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and ascending third-year defensive lineman Ta'Quon Graham, now forming a stout trio on the interior.
Onyemata joins New England Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith as the first outside additions made by the Falcons thus far in free agency - but with an abundance of cap space still in hand, they're unlikely to be the last.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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