The Falcons had a busy day today announcing the signing of seven undrafted free agents. Undrafted free agents are typically used to help fill out the squad for two-a-day practices. Maybe a few wings and a prayer types, but to be honest I am not sure how many of these guys make rosters each season. The numbers have to be very low. The pressure is on the front office and the coaching staff to give priority to the players drafted. The Falcons signed:
“linebacker Isaac Brown (Central Michigan), punter Jimmie Kaylor (Colorado State), cornerback Glenn Sharpe (Miami, Fla.), free safety D.J. Wolfe (Oklahoma), defensive end Brandon Miller (Georgia), running back Jamar Brittingham (Bloomsburg) and offensive tackle Michael Butterworth (Slippery Rock).”
Brown looks to be way undersized. Kaylor was brought in to provide some competition for incumbent punter (kick off specialist) Michael Koenen. I do not see Sharpe making the team, but maybe he has never reached his true potential due to his injury history. Wolfe will probably last towards the later cuts. I am going to say that Miller has a chance to make the team because the Falcons did not use a high draft pick on a DE, but Miller is probably too undersized to contribute to anything other than the practice squad. Brittingham is just a roster filler. Butterworth is the most interesting signing of the bunch. Man is that dude huge.
“Butterworth, 6-7, 330 pounds, earned All-America honorable mention honors by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette for his performance last season. He also garnered ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors for the second consecutive year and was a first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division selection for the third straight year.”
Maybe Butterworth is our hidden gem. After minicamp we may have a little better read on the team. Then comes the June 1 cuts where we will certainly be on the lookout for some decent offensive line help.
