Falcons continue to bolster line, trade for Ty Sambrailo

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The Falcons did not have a lot of holes entering this offseason, but the offensive line remains the silver lining to that statement. Starting guard Chris Chester decided to hang up the cleats and backup swingman tackle Tom Compton headed to Chicago in free agency. Despite this, Atlanta opted not to spend a high draft pick or some of their limited cap space this offseason on the o-line, and hopefully they are not regretting it.

A little over a week ago, the Falcons acquired Austin Pasztor in free agency. The former Brown started all sixteen games last season and looked to be the prime candidate to take over Tom Compton’s role as the backup tackle. Now, things look a little more cloudy. Adam Schefter reported this afternoon that Atlanta will be sending a fifth-round pick to Denver in exchange for tackle Ty Sambrailo.

So what does Sambrailo bring to the Falcons?

Sambrailo has been a bright spot for the Broncos this preseason. He made the preseason team of the week in week 3 for Denver according to Pro Football Focus, missing a single block in pass protection and mauling defenders run blocking. According to Broncos Wire, Sambrailo was on the cusp of cracking the starting lineup. As far as the fit with the team, he make the most sense as the Falcons backup swingman. This might mean Pasztor is on the outside looking in, as Atlanta would not give up a pick if they felt Pasztor was capable of doing  the job. However, that decision also depends on whether the team will keep eight or nine linemen on the 53-man roster.

The most interesting part about this deal is Sambrailo’s versatility. While he has primarily been a tackle, he has also spent time at guard, which could prove vital considering the Falcons current situation. If the Wes Schweitzer and Ben Garland tandem does not pan out, do not be surprised to see Sambrailo work his sway into the starting lineup at guard.

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