The signing of defensive end Derrick Shelby to a one-year, $3.25 million deal by the Falcons did not eliminate them from signing free-agent linebacker Pernell McPhee.
McPhee visited Wednesday with the Falcons.
The Falcons currently have three linebackers on the roster in Deion Jones, DeVondre Campbell and Duke Riley. They moved Vic Beasley back to defensive end and did not re-sign LaRoy Reynolds and Sean Weatherspoon.
McPhee, 29, played outside linebacker for the Bears the past three seasons. In 36 games, he had 14 sacks and 75 tackles. He was limited to nine games two seasons ago. He also played four seasons with the Ravens. The seven-year veteran has appeared in 96 games and recorded 31 sacks and 139 tackles.
McPhee, 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, was released by the Bears in February after signing a five-year contract in 2015. He also was reported to have visited the Redskins.
McPhee was drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Ravens out of Mississippi State.
Special-teams maven Justin Bethel, who also visited the Falcons this week, is still in the process of making a decision.
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