Why did the Atlanta Falcons cut the former Starting Pass Rusher? Raheem Morris reveals

The Atlanta Falcons have long faced questions related to the pass rush, and first-year head coach Raheem Morris said at the owners’ meeting in late March how much he prioritized the pass rush. looking for an answer.

Clearly, part of that process included breaking past ties, as Morris and the Falcons released outside linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji on May 16.

Ogundeji, a 2021 fifth-round pick, was forced into action early on Atlanta’s defensive front. He started 11 games as a rookie and ranked third on the team with five tackles for loss. In 2022, the former Notre Dame star started all 16 games he played in, although he only managed two sacks and three tackles for loss.

But Ogundeji’s career took an unexpected turn last summer, when he suffered a lower-body injury during training camp that ultimately ended his 2023 season before it began.

Atlanta’s pass rush increased, recording 42 sacks after combining for just 39 in the previous two years. A change occurred this spring, when Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake replaced Arthur Smith and Ryan Nielsen, respectively.

The Falcons’ co-leaders – Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, who had six each – hit the free agent market. Campbell remains unsigned while Dupree has joined the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Atlanta didn’t make any big additions to its defensive front in free agency and waited until the third round to select an edge player, adding Bralen Trice from Washington. The Falcons signed former Dallas Cowboys rookie Bradlee Anae after he attended rookie minicamp on May 10.

Yet for Morris, Atlanta no longer had room to keep Ogundeji on its roster.

“We were able to address that a little bit in the draft with Bralen,” Morris said. “We’re going to address that position a little bit later when we add Anae, and it’s all about numbers for (Ogundeji).”

But the Falcons’ farewell to Ogundeji isn’t necessarily a final goodbye.

“That door is not closed,” Morris said. “You never know where we’re going there, but that was the decision on that.”

Morris left the door open for Ogundeji to rejoin the team on a different contract and perhaps as a member of the practice squad. It is unlikely to be in high demand this summer.

Atlanta returns to training with OTAs on June 3 at IBM Performance in Flowery Branch.

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