The Atlanta Falcons have signed nose guard Eddie Goldman as a free agent according to the team.
Goldman (6’3/325) continues the Falcons recent imports of former Chicago Bears including offensive tackle Germain Ifedi and running back Cordarrelle Patterson.
The interior defensive line may have been the biggest weakness on the Atlanta Falcons heading into the 2022 season, and Goldman at worst provides quality depth next to Grady Jarrett. He likely will be penciled in as a starter.
Ourlads.com moved him to the No. 1 nose guard position right away on their Falcons depth chart. Before the Goldman signing, Ta’Quon Graham was listed in that spot while Marlon Davidson occupied the other end position opposite Jarrett.
With Goldman in the fold, Davidson is relegated to a backup position and Graham slides over to end.
Goldman was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He’s played his entire career in Chicago to this point and started 10 of 14 games last season. Goldman has been a starter virtually his entire career in the NFL and has compiled 13 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in his six seasons (he sat out 2020).
Terms of his deal with the Falcons have yet to be disclosed, but he earned just under $5 million in 2021 with Chicago.
Goldman represents a true nose guard for defensive coordinator Dean Pees. It was one of the weaker spots in the Falcons defense last year and Goldman should be an immediate upgrade.
There will be plenty of new faces on the Falcons defense next season including edge rusher Lorenzo Carter, cornerback Casey Hayward and draft picks Arnold Ebiketie (edge) and Troy Andersen (linebacker) that will inject size, speed, and talent into Pees’ defense.
The Falcons were last in the NFL with just 18 sacks last season, a whopping 11 behind the Eagles. Pees and the Falcons should have more talent to work with on defense, allowing him to play much more aggressively.
