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After back-to-back seasons without a playoff berth, the Atlanta Falcons are embarking on a new era under new head coach Dan Quinn. Most of Quinn’s assistants were brought into the fold before his run as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks officially ended, surely with his input though, and Kyle Shanahan will be the Falcons’ new offensive coordinator.
Devonta Freeman did not get a lot of opportunities as a rookie last season, with 65 carries for 248 yards, 30 catches for 225 yards and two total touchdowns even though he played all 16 games. But Shanahan has already praised Freeman, and it’s fair to assume the 103rd overall pick in the 2014 draft will see a bigger workload next season.
After setting a career-low with 543 rushing yards in 2013, Steven Jackson was only marginally better in his second season with the Falcons (707 rushing yards; 3.7 yards per carry). He will turn 32 in July, with a declining workload that reflects his advancing age (12.9 carries per game over the last two seasons).
Jackson is due to make $3.75 million next season, with a matching salary cap hit, in the final year of his contract. With a defensive-minded head coach in place, and plenty of needs on that side of the ball, having that money available when free agency starts would be a good thing for Atlanta. To say nothing of Jackson’s diminishing contribution as his career winds down, and his likely poor fit for Shanahan’s zone-blocking-based offensive scheme.
The decision to cut Jackson could be taken out of Atlanta’s hands if he chooses to retire, but there are no indications that he is considering that right now. It’s possible Jackson would call it a career if the Falcons let him go, since he would surely find limited interest on the open market as a running back on the wrong side of 30.
Jackson has clearly reached the downside of his career, and he can be easily replaced with a middle-round draft pick this spring. As long as the Falcons avoid any unnecessary sentimentality, the decision to cut Jackson should be easy.
Brad Berreman is a Columnist/Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Connect with him on Twitter or Google +.
