No matter what the Falcons say or do in the coming months, you shouldn’t expect them to spend top dollar on a free agent pass rusher. That means no Jadeveon Clowney, no Everson Griffen, and probably no one like Arik Armstead or Jason Pierre-Paul, though those names aren’t completely impossible.
Atlanta’s much more likely to try to re-build their pass rush through the draft and through judicious, affordable signings. That probably made you crinkle your nose in disgust, but it’s the cap reality and it doesn’t have to be the worst thing in the world.