With the opening of the NFL business year at 4 p.m. Thursday, this should be a busy week for the Falcons.
Here are five things to know on Monday:
1. Jones update. Falcons All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones is scheduled to see Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte today for an examination. The Falcons said that Jones is not schedule for surgery , but there are reports that he's set to have a bunion removed.
2. Trufant deal closer. Cornerback Desmond Trufant and the Falcons are close to reaching an agreement on a lucrative contract extension.
3. Falcons linked to McClain. The Falcons reportedly have shown interest in journeyman defensive tackle Terrell McClain. He's been with Carolina, Houston and Dallas. Last season he was the 86th rated interior defensive lineman out of 127 as graded by profootballfocus.com. Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, who was set to visit the Falcons, signed with the 49ers for four-years and $16 million.
4. Free agent window opens. At noon on Tuesday, teams can begin contract talks with agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents. No contracts can be finalized until official start of free agency. Thursday 4 p.m. marks the official start of the new league year. Teams can begin signing players to new contracts. The Falcons added center Alex Mack and Mohamed Sanu during free agency period last season.
5. Negotiations. The Falcons are also trying to resign safety Kemal Ishmael, tight end Levine Toilolo, fullback Patrick DiMarco and defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw. They re-signed cornerback Robert Alford (four-year, $38 million) and right tackle Ryan Schraeder (five-year, $32million) to contract extensions during the season.
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