The Falcons watched as the top-tier tight ends rolled off the free-agency market before making their move.
The Falcons flirted with a couple of other players before signing two tight ends Thursday, adding the Jacob Tamme and the often-injured Tony Moeaki to modest deals.
Tamme, a former member of the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts, signed a two-year contract. Moeaki, who’s suffered myriad injuries, signed a one-year contract.
Tamme, 30, had 86 receptions and 14 special-teams tackles in three previous seasons with the Denver Broncos. In 2012, Tamme caught 52 passes for 555 yards. His role with the Broncos was reduced over the past two seasons.
Tamme, 6-foot-4, 234 pounds, was a fourth-round pick (127th overall) of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2008 draft. He had his best season in 2010 when he caught 67 of 93 targets (72 percent) for 631 yards and four touchdowns wit the Colts.
He has played in 107 games and made 23 starters. Over his career he’s caught 178 of 277 targets (64.2 percent) for 1,703 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Moeaki was a third-round pick (93rd overall) of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010 out of Iowa. He had a solid rookie season with 47 receptions for 556 and three touchdowns. He has played in 38 NFL games and made 31 starts.
He missed all of the 2011 season with a torn ligament in his knee. He return to catch 33 passes in 2012.
He suffered a fractured shoulder and played with the Bills in 2013. He was released by Bills after suffering a hamstring injury. He played in six games and two in the playoffs for Seattle last season.
Moeaki, 27, has caught 88 of 142 targets (62 percent) for 1,143 yards and five touchdowns.
The Falcons have taken low-risk fliers of players in the past such as linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Pat Angerer that didn’t work out. Neither played a down for the team.
The Falcons are trying to upgrade at tight end, but elected not to pursue Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas and Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron in free agency. Thomas signed a five-year, $46 million deal with Jacksonville and Cameron signed a two-year $15 million deal with the Miami Dolphins.
The Falcons also were interested in Washington’s Niles Paul and St. Louis’ Lance Kendricks, but they both returned to their teams. The Falcons also had former Arizona tight end Rob Housler in for a visit, but elected not to sign him.
In addition to Tamme and Moeaki, the Falcons have Levine Toilolo, Mickey Schuler and Kyle Miller on the roster.
They drafted Toilolo in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 2013 draft. He played one season with the great Tony Gonzalez before stepping into the starting role last season.
The former offensive staff hoped to develop Toilolo, who’s 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds, into a red-zone threat, but that never materialized. In 16 starts last season, he caught 31 of 54 targets (57.4 percent) for 238 yards and two touchdowns.
Toilolo was a strong blocker and was forced to play some tackle near the end of the Minnesota game last season when the Falcons suffered several injuries along the line during the game.
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