Former Georgia star Nakobe Dean is a good free agent fit for Falcons

The Falcons should make a run at linebacker Nakobe Dean.

The Eagles selected the former Georgia star in the third round of the 2022 draft. He doesn’t appear to be in the team’s plans, as the NFL’s free agent negotiation period is set to begin on Monday.

Dean fits what the Falcons need. They probably can sign him to a contract that is good value. Injuries hampered Dean in 2023 and 2025, but he was a good starter for the Eagles during their Super Bowl championship season in 2024.

Dean would be a worthy investment for the Falcons. He can be a good, younger (25) replacement for pending free agent Kaden Elliss (30).

The Falcons urgently need to replace Elliss’ pass-rushing production (73 quarterback pressures over the past two seasons, according to PFF). They can’t count on last year’s team leader in sacks, James Pearce Jr. He’s facing felony assault charges and a minimum six-game league suspension.

Dean can help pick up the pass-rushing slack.

Per Pro Football Reference, Dean blitzed the quarterback 56 times during the past two seasons. He produced seven sacks, 15 pressures, and forced two fumbles by quarterbacks (the Eagles recovered both). And Dean could get more opportunities to rush the passer if he signed with the Falcons, who blitzed more than all but one team in 2025.

The Falcons also would benefit from Dean’s physical playing style. He’s a better run defender than Elliss. The Falcons need help after finishing last season ranked 25th in rushing yards allowed per play and 27th in Expected Points Added for the rush defense (play-by-play impact).

Pro Football Focus rated Dean as an elite run defender in 2024. He fell off in that area last season after missing the first five weeks because of a knee patellar injury suffered during the 2024 playoffs. A foot bone fracture sidelined Dean for 12 games of the 2023 season.

That injury history will depress Dean’s market value. He probably can be signed with relatively little cap space. The Falcons surely could work out a deal that protects them while rewarding Dean if he’s productive and healthy. Playing time incentives are an obvious way to do that.

Spotrac projects Dean’s market value as $32 million over four years. Pro Football Focus puts it at $41 million over three years. The Falcons could comfortably fit a contract within that range under the cap by spreading out the impact with a signing bonus.

Dean would be an upside play for the Falcons. They’d bet on him staying healthy and rediscovering his 2024 form. They’d count on Dean improving during the prime of his career. He would be 28 during the final season of a four-year contract.

Signing Dean is a reasonable gamble for the Falcons. He proved in 2024 that he could come back from a major injury and play well. After winning the Butkus Award at Georgia, Dean worked his way up from special-teams player to valuable starter for Super Bowl champions.

The Falcons have needs at positions other than linebacker.

They likely can’t afford to re-sign David Onyemata, PFF’s eighth-rated interior defensive lineman in 2025. The Falcons could use a No. 2 wide receiver behind star Drake London. The Falcons will need a tight end to pair with Kyle Pitts Sr. if coach Kevin Stefanski still wants to use two-tight end formations frequently.

The Falcons can sign an adequate free agent tight end for relatively cheap. Good defensive tackles and wide receivers cost more than what the Falcons have to spend under the cap. They can be acquired cheaper in the draft.

The “dead money” for the Cousins deal is eating up a big chunk of the Falcons’ cap space. That means they will have to shop for free agents who fill needs while playing above their pay.

Dean is a good bet to do that.

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