Falcons Sign DT Vincent Taylor; Does Draft Strategy Change?

By adding a defensive tackle in free agency, does this force the team to look elsewhere in the draft?

Jeremy Brener | Apr 17, 2022

The Atlanta Falcons made another small splash in free agency, signing free agent defensive tackle Vincent Taylor to a one-year deal Saturday.

Vincent Taylor

Terry Fontenot

Arthur Smith

Taylor, 28, is now with his fifth team in five years. Since entering the league as a sixth-round pick in 2017, Taylor has played for the Miami Dolphins (2017-18), Buffalo Bills (2019), Cleveland Browns (2020) and Houston Texans (2021). However, Taylor suffered an ankle injury and was placed on injured reserve after just one game last season.

Now, the Falcons hope that he can return to health and provide depth in a position of need on the defense.

The 6-3, 311-pound defensive tackle has been primarily a role player throughout his career, and his playing time for the Falcons will likely be dictated in what the team decides to do in the draft.

The Falcons have been linked to defensive tackles in the draft, including Devonte Wyatt and Jordan Davis from Georgia, but with Taylor's arrival, will that lead the Falcons to go in different directions?

That's not exactly the case.

General manager Terry Fontenot has a "best player available" mentality for every pick in the draft and Taylor doesn't move the needle too much for the position group. He, like many free agent signings this offseason, have been one-year journeyman deals to bring in some veterans to teach and compete alongside younger guys.

In a radio interview earlier in the week, defensive coordinator Dean Pees stressed the need for rookie upgrades to the defense.

Dean Pees

"There's a lot of things I'm talking to them about what we need," Pees told 92.9 The Game. "But that [pass rusher] is certainly a priority. I'd take all nine picks on the daggone defense if we could get 'em."

While it's unlikely all nine Falcons picks will be on defense, any small signing from here on out isn't going to change much of the team's draft needs.

Published Apr 17, 2022

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.