Atlanta Falcons agree to terms with Dwight Freeney

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons announced they have agreed to terms with seven-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Dwight Freeney. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Freeney, 36, visited with the Falcons in June to work out for coach Dan Quinn and his staff, but was not signed at the time. He also visited with the Cincinnati Bengals in late May.

Freeney, who has 119.5 career sacks, finished with 8.0 sacks in 11 games for the Arizona Cardinals last season. He bolsters a Falcons pass rush that finished last in the NFL with 19 sacks last season.

Atlanta is counting on continued development from 2015 first-round pick Vic Beasley and a bounce-back year from Brooks Reed, but Freeney provides a veteran outside pass rush threat who proved last year he still has what it takes to beat tackles around the edge. The Falcons brought in Derrick Shelby to team with Grady Jarrett and Jonathan Babineaux to provide pressure from the inside, and have even experimented with using newcomer Courtney Upshaw along the line.

Freeney was selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, and ranked third in NFL history with 47 career forced fumbles, according to STATS LLC. Beasley led the Falcons with two forced fumbles last season.