It’ll be interesting to see how Ray Edwards does without the Williams wall and Jared Allen next to him. Edwards has 16.5 sacks in the last two seasons, 20.5 if you include the 4 he had in just 2 playoff games in 2009. However, I don’t think he’s a #1 defensive end on a good pass rushing team. The good thing for Atlanta is, they didn’t pay him like he was one. This deal is worth 30 million over 5 years with just 11 million guaranteed. That’s a very cheap rate for a passing rushing #2 end who will line up across from John Abraham.

He’s also only 26 still and there’s a chance he continues to improve even without all the help he had in Minnesota and becomes a legitimate 10+ sack end, which will make this deal look like a bargain. Hard to believe the Panthers gave Charles Johnson 72 million over 6 years with 30 million guaranteed and the Falcons only gave Edwards 30 million over 5 with 11 million guaranteed.

Grade: A