Falcons sign Dwight Freeney to improve pass rush

The Atlanta Falcons have had issues producing a consistent pass rush for years — really, ever since letting John Abraham go in 2013. They’re working hard to fix that problem this year, and they just took an annoyingly big step: the Falcons are signing veteran Dwight Freeney, according to Adam Schefter.

Freeney joins last year’s eighth overall pick Vic Beasley, who had a somewhat disappointing rookie season, but displayed a lot of explosiveness anyway, and veterans Brooks Reed and Courtney Upshaw. That group has some talent, but Freeney should provide a major boost.

Hopefully for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Freeney is close to done, though. The 36-year-old is coming off an eight-sack season, but had just four sacks over the previous two years combined. He has to be close to the end of his career, and those many double-digit sacks season in Indianapolis are quite some time ago. This wouldn’t be the first time a veteran manages to get one final, dominant season out of his aging body, though. We’ll have to wait and see what happens this year.