Signs are pointing to the Falcons losing Drew Dalman in free agency. ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler reported that the club is prepared to lose the center this offseason.
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“The Falcons are prepared to lose center Drew Dalman in free agency,” Graziano wrote. “They’d like to have him back but are concerned he can get more money elsewhere.”
The 2021 fourth-round pick has quietly become one of the league’s best centers, especially in the run game. But more importantly, he’s hitting free agency at the right time. Dalman is easily the best free agent center, and he’ll be compensated very handsomely, with some even predicting he’ll reset the center market.
Gregg Rosenthal on the NFL Daily podcast reported that talk around the league is that Dalman will garner a contract that pays him $20 million a year, continuing by saying he doesn’t think the Falcons will be able to retain him.
“Talking to people around the league, he is going to get like a starting offensive lineman type of ‘What? Who got $20 million a year?’ But Drew Dalman will be that guy. He is absolutely getting that. I don’t think the Falcons are going to be able to afford to keep him,” Rosenthal said.
Dalman did miss eight games this past season, and in his place, Ryan Neuzil performed admirably, which seems to be where the Falcons will turn if/when Dalman signs elsewhere.
“They feel good, though, about tendering restricted free agent center Ryan Neuzil and making him the Dalman replacement, which he was during the 2024 season when Dalman missed time due to injury,” wrote Graziano.
While Neuzil is also a free agent, he’s a restricted free agent, so it’s much easier for the Falcons to retain him. It also doesn’t hurt that he will demand a fraction of the salary that Dalman is sure to garner in this offseason.
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Photographer: David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire
Alex Anthopoulos’ tenure with the Braves has earned him the title of one of the best executives in the game. He’s taken a lot of big swings, both in trades and free agency, and more often than not, what he touches turns to gold. However, most of his best work has not been of the blockbuster variety, but rather under-the-radar acquisitions that end up paying massive dividends.
A perfect example of this was last offseason’s six-player deal that sent a slew of young Braves prospects, along with fan favorite Michael Soroka, to the White Sox for Aaron Bummer. At the time, it was a bit of a head-scratcher, but now it looks like one of the better trades of Alex Anthopoulos’ tenure.
Aaron Bummer was coming off a dreadful 2023 campaign, one in which he recorded a 6.79 ERA over 58.1 innings. However, his 3.58 FIP suggested he was subject to the worst luck of any pitcher in baseball, and his strikeout numbers were intriguing. The Braves bet on the peripherals, and after a shaky start, Bummer blossomed into one of Brian Snitker‘s most reliable bullpen arms, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.85 FIP over his final 48 appearances of the regular season.
Meanwhile, the five players the Braves sent to the White Sox didn’t exactly light it up in Chicago. Michael Soroka really struggled as a starter but did prove to have some value after making adjustments and moving to the bullpen. However, he’s now in Washington after signing a one-year deal in free agency. Former first-round pick Jared Shuster also made the move to the bullpen after struggling as a starting pitcher. Nicky Lopez is now with the Cubs on a minor-league deal, and Braden Shewmake was designated for assignment.
A lot of nothing for a high upside reliever with elite peripherals, who enters the 2025 campaign as perhaps the most pivotal member of Atlanta’s bullpen. With A.J. Minter departing in free agency and Joe Jiménez on the shelf, high-leverage opportunities are up for grabs. The Braves didn’t go out and replace those guys this offseason for a reason. They believe in their internal options, with Aaron Bummer being at the forefront of those conversations.
