FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Falcons have agreed to terms with defensive end Adrian Clayborn, cornerback Phillip Adams and defensive end O'Brien Schofield on Thursday.
Clayborn, a former first-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2011, has 13 career sacks. He played one game last season after tearing his biceps. He agreed to one-year deal reportedly worth as much as $4.5 million.
Clayborn, 26, also has battled a condition called Erb’s Palsy, a disability that caused nerve damage to his right shoulder.
He missed most of the 2012 season due to a torn ACL, he returned and played another full slate of games the next year. He tallied 64 tackles and 5.5 sacks. While he didn't flash the same type of burst off of the edge, he was still a solid contributor.
Adams, 26, spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders. He's started a combined eight games over those seasons, with eight pass deflections and three interceptions. Adams will likely compete for a nickel role.
Adams, 5-11, 195 pounds, was originally selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round (224th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft out of South Carolina State. He has spent time with the 49ers, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, and New York Jets during his career. Adams saw action in 12 contests with four starts, recording 20 tackles, one interception, and four passes defensed in 2014.
Schofield, 6-3, 242 pounds, was originally selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round (130th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft out of Wisconsin.
He spent time with the Cardinals and Seahawks, posting 111 total tackles (93 solo), 13.5 sacks three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one pass defense. Schofield played in all 16 regular season games and two playoff games as a member of the Seahawks in 2014. He posted 20 tackles (15 solo), two sacks and one fumble recovery last season.
From Falcons PR on Clayborn:
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
The St. Louis, Missouri native was a two-time team captain that started in 37 of 50 games played, including his last 30 games during his Iowa career (2007-10). He recorded 192 tackles to go with 19.0 sacks, 37.5 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery while earning All-Big Ten honors following his junior and senior seasons. Clayborn attended Webster Groves High School where he was a four-year letterman and team captain
From Falcons PR on Adams:
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Adams played in 42 games in four years at South Carolina State. He earned a first-team All-MEAC selection and led team to a 10-2 record as a senior in 2009. Adams finished senior season with 48 tackles and a team-high 11 passes defensed. He led the team with five interceptions as a junior and also served as a punt returner.
From Falcons PR on Schofield:
Schofield started 27 of 44 career games at Wisconsin and posted 110 total tackles (77 solo), 17 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two passes defensed. His 12 sacks during the 2009 season were tied for the third most in a single season in school history, while his 24.5 tackles for loss rank as the second best in Badger annals.
The Falcons hosted former Georgia Tech and Tennessee standout Derrick Morgan, but he did not accept their offer and went to visit Tampa Bay. He apparently headed back to Tennessee.
Before reaching deals with Clayborn and Adams, the Falcons had 58 players under contract, with a $2,845,290 previous year carryover, cap number $117,096,533, and cap room of $29,152,282, according to NFLPA documents.
The Falcons signed linebacker Brooks Reed to a five-year deal worth $22 million.
Linebacker Justin Durant signed a three-year deal, possibly worth $10.8 million through incentives.
Offensive lineman Mike Person signed a three-year deal worth $4.1 million through incentives.
Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson was signed to a one-year, $1 million contract.
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VIDEO DEPARTMENT
Watch: D. Led -- Falcons news at the combine
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FALCONS COMBINE MEETINGS
Oregon DE Arik Armstead talked scheme with the Falcons
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Falcons met with Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson
Falcons met with Alabama safety Landon Collins
PHOTO GALLERIES
Photographs from the 2015 NFL scouting combine
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