NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Atlanta Falcons Can’t Give Up on Roddy White

By Dan Salem

Oct 25, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) catches a pass during warm ups prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) catches a pass during warm ups prior to the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Atlanta Falcons stumbled hard last season, so should their efforts to improve include Roddy White? The Falcons must keep their star receiver next season.

We’re tackling each team in the league, traveling alphabetically to debate their biggest offseason issues. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

The Atlanta Falcons have a number of holes to fill despite their rather successful 2015 season (at least based on win-loss record). NFL fans realize the team was worse than its 8-8 record. Atlanta was superb at winning games late during the first half of the season.

It’s counter-intuitive to create one more hole in trying to help a roster already filled with them, but Atlanta’s biggest decision this offseason may be whether or not to release veteran wide receiver Roddy White.

While White is no longer his former Pro-Bowl-caliber self and is surely not worth what his 2016 contract will pay him, the particulars of this situation make it tricky. First, the contract: White will have a cap hit of more than $6 million next season and an even higher cap hit the following season, before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2018.

$3.7 million of that is dead money for next year, meaning the Falcons owe that sum whether White is cut or not. The other problem here is that, according to ESPN reports from the postseason, White has no interest in taking a pay cut. That may just be posturing considering he also exclaimed how he wished to remain a Falcon until he retired. Whatever the case, he probably shouldn’t remain on the roster at his current price.

White continues to see the field a lot, despite getting up there in age, but his production has flat-lined even after a bounce-back 2014. The final piece of this decision: if Atlanta does cut White because he isn’t worth the price tag, it needs to bring in another starting wide receiver. The worrisome clarification to that: the team probably needs that position filled whether White is on the team or not.

Related Story: Predicting the NFC Favorite in 2016

The NFL Draft is pretty deep in early round wide receivers this season; Atlanta could surely grab a deserving one with its first-round pick. The free agency pool at the position is also intriguing with upside, though it lacks star wide receivers outside of Alshon Jeffery.

Because of the situation with White’s dead money, and the leadership and experience he surely brings to the locker room, the Falcons are probably better off hanging onto him but reducing his role. In that instance, it makes for an even bigger salary crunch as an additional wide receiver will need to be added, despite White still being paid like a star.

Nov 16, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) and Carolina Panthers strong safety Roman Harper (41) shove each other during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) and Carolina Panthers strong safety Roman Harper (41) shove each other during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

DAN:

The Falcons certainly had a down year overall and I’m willing to bet that Matt Ryan fully bounces back next season. Unless his career has peaked, Ryan is due for prettier stats which bodes well for his receiving core. Atlanta obviously needs another reliable weapon on the outside, with White having fallen into that third or fourth receiver role. But keeping Roddy around for 2016 is the shrewd move.

More from NFL Spin Zone

White was targeted second among receivers on the Falcons last season, behind only Julio Jones. Yet he was fourth overall on the team, with 70 targets and 43 receptions for just over 500 yards. With a solid 11.8 yards per catch average, White was a reliable target. He is not worth the hefty price tag any longer, but considering the dead money involved in his deal, as well as his name value and Atlanta’s lack of other receiving options, keeping Roddy makes perfect sense.

You can’t put a price on veteran leadership, especially not from a former superstar. Draft a young receiver and let White be his mentor. Enable White to finish his career in Atlanta, while improving the team in the process.

More nfl spin zone: 2016 NFL Mock Draft - NY Jets Trade Up for Elliott

Atlanta has a powerful duo at running back. Tight end Jacob Tamme is a rising force at his position as well. Continuity on offense is key for Atlanta going forward, and tossing aside White both wastes money and destroys what was built. Every wide receiver needs a solid quarterback to be successful and Atlanta has just that. White will be hard pressed to find a better situation than Matt Ryan under center. Conversely, the Falcons must spend their money in places other than wide receiver in order to improve as a team. While it hurts to pay an aging veteran more than his current value, in Atlanta’s case it just makes sense.

Home/Atlanta Falcons