UPDATE: 10:35 P.M. -- Poe is in Atlanta tonight, wrapping up dinner with Falcons' officials.
UPDATE, 1:34 P.M. -- Poe is scheduled to visit the Falcons within the next 24 hours.
FLOWERY BRANCH -- Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff let it be known that the team is very interested in signing free agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe on Monday.
“It’s been reported about Poe coming into visit,” Dimitroff said while appearing on the team’s flagship radio station, 92.9 The Game with John Fricke and Hugh Douglass. “We’re in the middle of having some conversations with his representation and if we can work it have him come here, I know he has a couple of other visits set up. We are interested in continuing to talk to him and the best way for us to do that, for everyone to know, is we like to them in our offices.”
Poe, was drafted 11th overall in 2012 by former Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli, who's now with the Falcons. Poe is 6-foot-3 and 346 pound and has been to two Pro Bowls.
Poe, who represented by Jimmy Sexton, has visited the Colts and reportedly is set to visit Jacksonville.
The Falcons are not likely to make move until he visits.
“(We want t0) have (him) around our coaches to see how he fits,” Dimitroff said about the importance of a visit. “See what his expectations are and to be very clear about what our expectations are. He’s obviously had some very good seasons in the past. I think we believe that he still has the ability to contribute.”
The Falcons have room for Poe after electing not to re-sign Jonathan Babineaux and releasing veteran Tyson Jackson. The team cleared some cap space recently and are $17.7 million under the camp, according to the NFLPA documents.
“To our point about rotations, to our point about having versatility to not only aligning on first and second down, but to push the pocket as a big, big dude pushing toward the quarterback,” Dimitroff said. “That’s an important thing.
“Having an opportunity to bring a guy like that in to talk and see if he we’re on the same wave length, all along the same wave length is very important for us.”
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