Falcon Report

Falcons' Van Jefferson: Signing with Atlanta, Zac Robinson Reunion?

Atlanta Falcons receiver Van Jefferson will test free agency this offseason. Should the team re-sign him?

Jeremy Brener

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Atlanta Falcons receiver Van Jefferson was traded midseason by the Los Angeles Rams. But now, Jefferson has an interesting decision to make in terms of his free agency this spring.

The Falcons hired former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who brought over assistant coach Zac Robinson to be the offensive coordinator. It's the same system Jefferson was in with the Rams, which comes with a blessing and a curse.

Dec 31, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Van Jefferson (15) attempts to make a catch over Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) during the first half at Soldier Field / Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Jefferson is very familiar with Robinson's potential schemes, but he was also traded away by the team ... so would the Falcons even want him back?

"Jefferson had 12 catches in 12 games after joining the team in a midseason trade with the Rams. If Smith was still the head coach, Jefferson likely wouldn’t consider coming back to Atlanta," The Athletic writes. "However, now he could be reunited with former Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, the Falcons’ new offensive coordinator. If he’s not interested in that, someone probably will sign him simply on the memory of his 50-catch 2021 season."

Jefferson isn't quite the player he was when the Rams won the Super Bowl, but he can still be an effective receiver who can help with depth and special teams. His familiarity with the Falcons could spark some interest in bringing him back to Atlanta, but the team could find more affordable versions and/or better fits instead of Jefferson on the open market.

Justin Fields Trade Sweepstakes: Steelers vs. Falcons?

NFL free agency begins on March 13.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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