{"id":129831,"date":"2022-02-16T14:12:24","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T19:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=129831"},"modified":"2022-02-16T14:12:24","modified_gmt":"2022-02-16T19:12:24","slug":"should-the-atlanta-falcons-re-sign-foyesade-oluokun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2022\/02\/16\/should-the-atlanta-falcons-re-sign-foyesade-oluokun\/","title":{"rendered":"Should the Atlanta Falcons Re-Sign Foyesade Oluokun?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2022 free agency period will be the most crucial period for the Terry Fontenot<\/a>–Arthur Smith<\/a> era. The 2021 season was an evaluation tool for the front office. A lot of Atlanta Falcons<\/a> players failed. Whether that was Deion Jones<\/a> showing minimal effort or Steven Means failing to set an edge. There was no doubt that this year was nothing more than an audition for the Falcons brass. One player that did not fail was Foyesade Oluokun<\/a>. He took this chance and rode it to a league-high 192 tackles. He also ended the season with three interceptions, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two sacks. On the other hand, PFF<\/a> also has him graded at an abysmal 45.3 overall grade. So, that begs the question: Do the Atlanta Falcons re-sign Foyesade Oluokun? This is one of the better questions that Atlanta will have this off-season, and it deserves a closer look.<\/span><\/p>\n

Will the Atlanta Falcons Re-Sign Foyesade Oluokun?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cons to re-signing Foyesade Oluokun<\/span><\/h3>\n

All season, the Falcons were looking for a spark plug on defense. There was one in the secondary with breakout star A.J. Terrell. Then, there was one on the defensive line with Grady Jarrett. However, in the middle of the defense, it just seemed shaky. That may be due, in part, to Foyesade\u2019s running mate Deion Jones\u2019 lackluster effort. But overall, it just did not seem like a solid unit, like fans had hoped for before the season. Oluokun’s best overall grade from PFF was in coverage, with a 52.8. Remember, that is out of 100. For PFF, that is in the D, D+ range.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And then there is the fact that the Atlanta Falcons are in literal salary cap hell. As of this moment, the Falcons are $6 million over the cap. Speaking of over the cap, OverTheCap.com has Foyesade valued<\/a> at $8 million per year for his contract. Not necessarily a bad number. Unless you are a team that is looking to cut costs in any way possible. Atlanta fans may love Oluokun, but other fanbases and teams already have him on their radar<\/a>. And these teams have a much better shot at giving Oluokun the money he may have earned himself this past season. It\u2019s a matter of if he\u2019s worth it to the Falcons brass. And it will be tough to say yes when there are so many other needs to fill all around the team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pros to re-signing Foyesade Oluokun<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sure, Deion Jones had a lackluster year, but he was playing a new position. In a difficult scheme under Dean Pees. But that’s a conversation for another day. Let\u2019s instead start with the fact that Oluokun had the seventh-most tackles in a season by any linebacker, ever. His 192 are the most that the league has seen since Jessie Tuggle in 1992. (Also, in 1990, 1991, and 1994. God, Jessie Tuggle was so good).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His intelligence was shining bright throughout the season as he took on the role of MIKE linebacker. When a defense is as unpredictable and ever-changing as a Dean Pees defense is, there has to be a rock in the middle to lead it. Foyesade Oluokun is that rock.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are not many units that the Falcons can say that they can live without upgrading this off-season. With Mykal Walker, Deion Jones (hopefully, much improved), and Foyesade Oluokun, the inside linebacker position may be one.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

OLUOKUN SAYS GAME OVER. <\/p>\n

Former @yalefootball<\/a> standout Foye Oluokun had the game-clinching interception in this afternoon\u2019s @AtlantaFalcons<\/a> win over Detroit. \ud83c\udf3f\ud83c\udfc8#UnrivaledExperience<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Hcr9ELOTpK<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ivy League (@IvyLeague) December 27, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n