The Falcons will likely be interested in Denver tight end Julius Thomas, who slated to become a free agent on March 10.
The Falcons want to upgrade the position and Thomas, when healthy, has been a difficult matchup for defenses.
During the NFL scouting combine this week, the Broncos have meet with agents of several of their free-agent players, but have no meeting scheduled, with Frank Bauer, the agent representing Thomas, according to the Denver Post.
Thomas appears set to test free agency.
“I don’t think Levine Toilolo is the answer at tight end,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. “They’ve got a tight end need.”
Thomas wouldn’t come cheaply. He turned down a multi-year contract worth $8 million per year in July. That deal would have made him the third-highest paid tight end behind only Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski.
Thomas is a two-time Pro Bowler and caught 90 passes in 2013.
Thomas would be the top tight end in free agency. The group could also include Jordan Cameron, Owen Daniels, Jermaine Gresham and Charles Clay.
After the retirement of tight end Tony Gonzalez in 2013, there was a big dropoff at the position. For the five seasons, Gonzalez was a vital third-down weapon and he averaged 81.8 catches a year.
Last season, Toilolo, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, caught 31 of 54 targets and scored just two touchdowns last season.
