Falcon Report

Falcons Sign Olamide Zaccheaus; Bigger Role in 2022?

The Atlanta Falcons are bringing back a potential starting wide receiver.

Jeremy Brener

The Atlanta Falcons are adding some familiarity to their wide receiver room after Olamide Zaccheaus signed his restricted free agency tender Tuesday.

Olamide Zaccheaus
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Olamide Zaccheaus

Olamide

Olamide Zaccheaus

Calvin Ridley vs Dolphins
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Ridley

The team tendered wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus at $2.433 million.

Zaccheaus enjoyed his best NFL season to date in 2021, logging 31 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns, all career-highs for the former Virginia Cavalier.

Bringing Zaccheaus back is a small move, but a necessary one given the team's lack of depth at the position.

With Calvin Ridley suspended for the 2022 season after betting on games and Russell Gage hopping over to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency, the Falcons still have a major hole in the offense, and Zaccheaus returning doesn't fulfill it.

Russell Gage

Russell Gage

Russell Gage Atlanta Falcons
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Gage

Kyle Pitts

Kyle Pitts

The team has tried to make moves without trying to break the already tight cap space, signing players like Damiere Byrd, KhaDarel Hodge and Auden Tate, but those players are expected to compete for the final spots in the receiver room while the team drafts a receiver or two early in the draft.

The team could still sign some veterans in free agency like Jarvis Landry, who visited the team earlier in the offseason, or Myles Boykin, who was recently released by the Baltimore Ravens this week, but that will likely be determined by how the team feels about the receivers they draft.

General manager Terry Fontenot adopts a "best player available" mentality, so there's a chance that the team doesn't draft a receiver high and opts to go for other pressing needs, like quarterback and pass rusher.

And that makes a minor move like Zaccheaus coming back a little more significant.

Published
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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