Falcons Free Agent Signing Must Be A Veteran Leader For The New Wave Of Rookies originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Falcons signed Floyd to a one-year, $10 million contract back in March, so the Falcons would have a veteran on the defense knowing they would go defense-heavy in the draft. Floyd recorded 8.5 sacks in 2024 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
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Floyd is a super bowl winner with the Los Angeles Rams and also had stints in Chicago and Buffalo. He was the 9th overall pick in 2016 by Chicago and has had a solid career but is now entering his age 32-33 season.
Leonard Floyd© Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Falcons have some veterans in Jessie Bates, Jordan Fuller and A.J. Terrell, who all have been vocal leaders of defenses, including the Falcons. This season will be very different as many starters will be rookies or second year players.
Floyd can be a voice to players like Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., who like Floyd are first round picks. Floyd also has that super bowl experience that the Falcons needed on defense.
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Floyd has career stats of 412 tackles, 66.5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 defensive touchdowns. A career journeyman, as someone who has been a leader on multiple teams, now joins a franchise who needs a veteran defensive leader more than anything. The Falcons will now have a veteran leader in the linebacker position.
Many veterans that sign one-year deals are more or less rentals on a team, but in the case of Floyd he could resign if all goes well with him and the young stars. There will be a lot to look forward to on this defense in 2025.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.