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Dennard

It looks like 2022 sixth-rounder Samuel Womack’s two-pick game sealed Dennard’s fate. He’s the rare early cut that might draw interest from other teams, as he was respectable in coverage for the Falcons in 2020 and buried on the 49ers depth chart in 2021. The first-round pedigree doesn’t hurt either.

Dennard spent time with the Colts, Giants and San Francisco last year, where he was active for two of the 49ers’ three playoff games. The 30-year-old former first-round pick of the Bengals will return to compete for a depth role in the 49ers’ secondary.

Headed into his age-30 campaign, Dennard is becoming something of a journeyman after the Bengals let him walk following the 2019 season. He made eight appearances for the Falcons’ woeful 2020 defense, providing some decent snaps. Dennard is solid, experienced depth nice to have at the end of a 53-man roster.

Dennard missed eight games to a hamstring injury in his first season with Atlanta. He was serviceable when healthy, posting 36 tackles, five deflections, and an interception on a 40% snap share. The Falcons may look for another short-term deal with Dennard after he settled for a one-year, $910K deal last offseason.

Dennard is the second outside corner for the Falcons, so he would’ve been defending Antonio Brown at times on Sunday. It’s a slight upgrade for the Bucs all around, although they were already projecting really well. After not practicing at all, Dennard’s season could be over. He’s week to week.

The team placed Dennard on IR in late September -- one of several devastating early-season injuries for Atlanta’s secondary. Dennard allowed 20 catches on 31 targets before hurting his hamstring. His return should make the Falcons’ secondary less horrid.

Dennard will now miss at least the next three weeks. It is almost literally the last thing the Falcons’ invisible, injury-battered secondary needs. Dennard hasn’t been playing well, but the Falcons couldn’t afford any more hits to their depth. Dennard also played better in Week 3, though the effort came against the Bears. It is going to be duct tape and glue time as the Falcons wait on Dennard and A.J. Terrell (COVID-19).

The signing comes four months after Dennard’s three-year, $13.5 million agreement with the Jaguars fell apart. He provides a needed talent infusion for a secondary that reached for A.J. Terrell in the first round of the draft but still remains low on viable corners. This is about as good of a depth signing as a team could hope to make on July 30. Dennard immediately enters the starting mix, and is probably the favorite to line up opposite Terrell. Dennard typically kicks to the slot in nickel situations.

Every year, there are a few presumed agreements that fall through. It figures to be more common than ever during this decidedly-uncommon pandemic spring, though Dennard’s deal reportedly fell apart over financial terms, not his physical. It reverses what was a strange move to begin with, as both Dennard and D.J. Hayden are most effective in the slot. Although he’s going on 29 and now has a failed contract to his name, Dennard will still have no problem finding guaranteed money on the open market.

The deal includes $6 million guaranteed. It’s a somewhat curious fit, as the Jags already have D.J. Hayden in the slot. Hayden had a strong 2019 and is signed for 2020. The No. 24 overall pick of the 2014 draft, Dennard has always had trouble staying healthy. It is unclear who might make the most sense to kick outside in nickel situations, though Dennard is the (slightly) bigger player.