Falcons ‘Believe They Have a Shot’ at Re-Signing C Drew Dalman
Center Drew Dalman, an unrestricted free agent, is expected to draw significant interest from other teams, but a return to the Atlanta Falcons is still a possibility.
Dalman, who can begin negotiating with new teams once the NFL’s legal tampering period opens on Monday at noon, has frequently been linked to the Chicago Bears as a potential landing spot.
However, according to Bleacher Report insider James Palmer, it’s not a certainty that Dalman, a starter for 40 consecutive games, will leave Atlanta this offseason.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the Falcons find a way to keep Drew Dalman,” Palmer tweeted Sunday night. “He clearly has a strong market, but Atlanta believes they have a shot at retaining him. We’ll see if they can make it happen.”
Dalman, drafted in the fourth round in 2021, has played in 57 games over the past four seasons. He missed eight games in 2024 due to an ankle injury and three games in 2023 with a separate ankle issue.
After spending his rookie year as the backup center while contributing on special teams, Dalman secured the starting job in 2022, playing all 1,051 offensive snaps. He started 14 games in 2023 and nine in 2024.
Dalman received a solid 78.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking fourth among centers. He excelled as a run blocker, earning a 79.8 grade, placing him fifth at the position. However, his pass protection grade of 66.6 ranked 21st out of 64 qualified centers. Over 554 snaps, Dalman allowed just two sacks and committed three penalties.
Dalman declined to comment on his future during the locker cleanout on January 6, calling it a personal and team matter. He did express his gratitude for his time in Atlanta, saying it was an “amazing experience” and that he hoped it would continue.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot briefly discussed Dalman’s free agency during a press conference on February 25 at the NFL combine.
“We know he’s a really good player,” Fontenot said. “He’s been a big part of our offensive line for a long time, but like with any unrestricted free agent, we have to have those conversations internally.”
As free agency officially opens at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dalman’s next move should be clear soon, with a greater chance than initially thought that he could return to Atlanta.
No Comment! Be the first one.