Thomas

DeCoud

The Ravens and Cowboys have also shown interest, but no visits have been scheduled at this point. DeCoud met with the Lions on Friday and left without a contract. Rotoworld ranks DeCoud as the No. 4 remaining free-agent safety.

The deal contains $4 million in guarantees, including $1 million of DeCoud’s first-year salary and a $3 million signing bonus. A third-round pick in 2008, DeCoud has started each of the past three seasons, and notched 86 tackles and a team-high four interceptions in 2011. DeCoud graded out negatively in coverage by Pro Football Focus, but has long been solid in run support.

The Falcons are projected to be $28 million under the cap, but are focused on signing Curtis Lofton and Brent Grimes and have key decisions to make on fellow free agents John Abraham and Harry Douglas. The paper suggests SS William Moore as an option to replace DeCoud if an extension can’t be struck.

In his year-ending press conference, GM Thomas Dimitroff said that the Falcons could realistically re-sign eight of their 17 impending free agents. James Sanders, who was signed as a backup safety during the preseason last year, is also set become a free agent this offseason.

Although DeCoud is listed as a starter on the depth chart, Sanders started last week and played almost 90 percent of the snaps. “We’ll keep the ideal of him and Thomas competing for the free safety position,” VanGorder said. “I think it’s a good situation to have.” IDPers can move on.

Seventh-round rookie Zeke Motta will get the start in DeCoud’s place, next to SS William Moore. According to Pro Football Focus, DeCoud has been nothing short of terrible in coverage this season, checking in as their No. 83 safety out of 87 qualifiers. Motta is purely a run stopper.

The oddly-specific date is because $2.3 million of DeCoud’s $4.2 million salary becomes guaranteed on the fifth day of the new league year, which begins March 11. The move would clear $3 million in cap space. DeCoud had a miserable 2013 for the Falcons’ soft defense, grading out 83-of-86 in Pro Football Focus’ safety ratings. He turns 29 next month.

DeCoud went down in a heap at the tail end of a punishing run by Eddie Lacy on Green Bay’s opening drive. DeCoud was later declared done for the day.

DeCoud is on track to play in Monday night’s game at San Francisco. His return will at least give the Falcons secondary a veteran presence as they started three rookies in Week 15.

Signed to a five-year, $17.5 million contract in 2012, DeCoud’s tackling was noticeably poor this past season, and he ranked 83rd among 86 qualifying safeties in Pro Football Focus’ 2013 ratings. DeCoud carries a 2014 salary cap charge of $4.8 million with a $4.2 million base salary. The Falcons could clear $3 million in salary cap space by cutting DeCoud this offseason.