The Falcons have agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with LB Divine Deablo, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal includes $8 million in the first for the former Raider, who started all 37 of his appearances over the past three seasons.
Deablo's playing time peaked in 2022, when he played 86.7% of Raiders defensive snaps across his eight games. That dipped to 78.5% and 75% the past two years, with Deablo running second to Robert Spillane at the position.
The Atlanta contract pretty clearly makes Deablo a starter, and likely a full-timer. He'll join Kaden Ellis, while shoving LBs Troy Andersen and Nate Landman out of the way.
Landman's a restricted free agent, so the Falcons could keep him around for a modest amount. But don't be surprised if they cut him loose.
Landman started 23 games over the past two seasons but offers little upside -- in real or fantasy terms.
Andersen's an exciting athlete but evidently hasn't impressed Falcons coaches enough to claim a meaningful role. The former second-round pick heads into the final year of his rookie contract this fall and figures to serve as the No. 3 LB.
Deablo scored at a top-30 rate over his eight games in 2022 but saw his fantasy production fall off in the two years since.
This new start with the Falcons should give him upside at least into the top 30. Deablo's playing time will help determine how high that ceiling goes. The former college safety should be a solid-to-good tackle bet and likely carries more big-play upside than he has shown to date. Deablo intercepted four passes to lead the ACC in his final college season.
LB Elandon Roberts agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Raiders this week. That's not enough to guarantee the veteran anything. But he faces plenty of opportunity in a LB corps that has let Deablo and Robert Spillane walk this week.
We'll see what else the Raiders do at the position this offseason.
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