INDIANAPOLIS – In addition to Dontari Poe, wide receiver Taylor Gabriel and linebacker Kemal Ishmael are players who will hit the free agency market in a few weeks, general manager Thomas Dimitroff confirmed on Wednesday.
After a breakout year in 2016, Gabriel's production dipped in the 2017 season. In his first season with the Falcons, Gabriel caught 35 passes for 579 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, he caught 33 passes for 378 yards and one touchdown.
Ishmael has been a key depth player at linebacker and on special teams for the Falcons for the past five seasons. The former sixth-round pick has recorded 148 tackles, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
Dimitroff also provided an update on where the team stands with defensive end Adrian Clayborn and kicker Matt Bryant, two players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on March 14.
Clayborn led the Falcons in sacks last season with 9.5 and also recorded two forced fumbles.
"AC [Adrian Clayborn], we are still having some very in-depth discussions about where we are with our defensive front with Dontari going to the market. We are still up for discussion," Dimitroff said.
Bryant will be entering his 17th NFL season and believes he is coming off his best year to date at the age of 42. In 2017, Bryant hit on 34 of his 39 field goals, good for an 87.2 percent conversion rate. He also tied his career high with 34 made field goals this year.
Dimitroff is "confident" that they will get a deal done with Bryant "fairly quickly" as they are having conversations now.
