The Atlanta Falcons seem to believe they\u2019ve figured things out offensively with all the essential pieces now in place. That\u2019s why they\u2019ve gone hard the last two years beefing up the other side of the ball.<\/p>\n
The Falcons have made six draft additions to their defensive front during that span. Last year\u2019s additions haven\u2019t quite worked out just yet, which is why they used not one, but two first-round picks in this year\u2019s draft \u2014 selecting Jalon Walker at No. 15 and James Pearce Jr. later at No. 26<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Still, some of the Falcons\u2019 lingering issues on the defensive front could persist this season. Not only is Atlanta banking on second-year unknowns and rookies, but they\u2019ll be without veteran Grady Jarrett, who was cut this offseason. That leaves the door open for veteran help up front.<\/p>\n AOL\u2019s Jordan O\u2019Malley<\/a> suggests one last-minute trade the Falcons could make before training camp is acquiring veteran defensive lineman Shelby Harris.<\/p>\n \u201cHarris isn\u2019t a star, but he\u2019s a dependable veteran run-stopper, and that\u2019s exactly what Atlanta lacks in the middle,\u201d O\u2019Malley wrote. \u201cAtlanta\u2019s run defense ranked 26th in 2024, and their current interior group needs more experience. Harris would slot in immediately and bring toughness and leadership to a defensive line that needs both.\u201d<\/p>\n Harris will be entering his 11th NFL season. He\u2019s compiled 27.5 sacks and five forced fumbles throughout his career. He missed three games last season with an elbow injury. Financially, the move makes sense: the Falcons have just under $5 million in cap space, per Over The Cap<\/a>, and Harris is owed $1.255 million in 2025.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n