David

Onyemata

The deal clears up roughly $4.9 million in cap space for Atlanta and is largely a procedural move. Teams can almost always perform a simple restructure whenever they see fit. Onyemata spent the first seven years of his career with the Saints before joining Atlanta in free agency last year. He totaled four sacks and six TFLs in his first season away from The Big Easy.

Emili just finished the season with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas. Emili bullied UFL offensive linemen as a three-down player, leading UFL defensive tackles with 14 run-defense stops while ranking sixth in pass-rush win rate (9.8%) and second in pass-rush productivity (6.8) among UFL defensive tackles with at least 100 run-defense and pass rushing snaps, respectively. His Brahmas squad produced a 7-3 regular season record, eventually losing the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL’s championship game. Emili has a chance to compete for the No. 3 defensive tackle role behind Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata.

Head coach Arthur Smith said the team will make a decision on Terrell on Saturday after having a chance to speak with medical professionals. Terrell being upgraded to a full participant is good for his Week 14 outlook, but if he doesn’t clear concussion protocol, he won’t play. While Terrell’s status remains wait-and-see, the Falcons have already ruled out LB Nate Landman (knee), RT Kaleb McGary (knee), DL David Onyemata (ankle), and DE LaCale London (knee) for Sunday’s contest against the Buccaneers.

The Falcons will heavily miss Onyemata on the DL, but they will get back Drake London who missed Week 9 with a groin injury. Taylor Heinicke will get his second straight start as he tries to spark a Falcons’ offense that seems like it gets usage out of its best players.

Onyemata got in a pair of limited practices to close the week but remains a game-time call. The veteran tackle has 3.5 sacks and five TFLs in nine appearances this season. Losing him for Week 10 would be a notable win for Kyler Murray in his first game of the 2023 season.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports Onyemata will pull down $24 million guaranteed. The 30-year-old had mentioned as one of the market’s quietly more sought after names. A Saint since 2016, Onyemata typically stones the run while offering strong pass-rushing heat from the interior. It’s probably an overpay, but the Falcons are overflowing with cap space.

New Orleans’ long march toward cap space continues. Onyemata is scheduled to be a free agent in 2023, so this move likely sent bonus money into dummy years, almost ensuring the Saints will be doing this same dance with someone else next March.

“Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is determined to land Watson and is prepared to make aggressive, roster-shaking moves to pull this off,” Wilson writes. A source predicted to Wilson that OT Ryan Ramczyk, DE Marcus Davenport, DT David Onyemata, and C Erik McCoy are potential add-ons along with the reported Texans asking price of three first-round picks. The Panthers have been the most aggressive team on Watson for some time now, but the Saints appear to be another strong entrant into the ring.

Onyemata tested positive for a banned substance this summer, and has now served his six game suspension. Onyemata recorded seven sacks and 29 quarterback hurries in 2020, and will help sustain the Saints’ early season success on defense. His return couldn’t come at a better time, with the Saints taking on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Week 8.

Pro Football Focus’ seventh highest graded defensive lineman in 2020, Onyemata, 28, will officially miss a third of the regular season after registering seven sacks and 29 quarterback hurries, the 13th most among defensive linemen, as a stalwart among New Orleans’ trenches last year. The team could also start the year without shutdown CB Marshon Lattimore, who was arrested in March by police gang investigators in Cleveland.