As NFL teams gear up for the official league year to begin in two days, teams are finding ways to create as much cap space as possible before then. This includes the Atlanta Falcons who have reportedly parted ways with their starting running back of the past five seasons.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Falcons have waived veteran RB Devonta Freeman. Freeman was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2014 and became their full-time starter in his second professional season.
The #Falcons are releasing RB Devonta Freeman, source says, saving more than $3M against the salary cap and moving on from their former starter.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
As Rapoport pointed out, splitting with Devonta Freeman will free up more than $3 million in cap space for Atlanta. The Falcons have an important offseason ahead of them and will likely look to retain some of their key free agents such as tight end Austin Hooper.
For Freeman, a change of scenery could be needed as he had started to slow down over his past two seasons in Atlanta. Freeman played in only two games for the Falcons in 2018 due to groin surgery and followed it up with another pedestrian effort in 2019. The Florida State product compiled only 656 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in 14 games last season.
