The Falcons have been on the hunt for a pass rusher since foolishly cutting John Abraham way back after the 2012 season. They tried and failed with Osi Umenyiora, Ray Edwards, Vic Beasley, Takkarist McKinley, and now Dante Fowler. Thomas Dimitroff restructured some contracts, kicking the cap problems off for another year, and let Austin Hooper leave in free agency without so much as offering him a contract, in order to land Fowler on a three-year, $45 million deal.
It was a risky move for Fowler, who only had one good season when playing next to Aaron Donald.