Falcons set to re-sign Toilolo; Tamme headed for free agency
The Falcons hope to re-sign tight end Levine Toilolo before he becomes an unrestricted free agent, according to general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
“Levine is a guy that we’re talking to,” Dimitroff said. “He’s still a young guy here.”
Toilolo, who’s 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds, was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 draft and has continued to develop. The team initially viewed him as a red-zone threat because of his height, but he developed into a blocking tight end who’s been helpful in the run game.
He caught a career-high 31 passes in 2014, but had several drops. He had 13 catches last season for 264 yards as he averaged 20.3 yards a catch and scored two touchdowns as teams would leave him uncovered.
“He’s done a really nice job of evolving into a tight end for us,” Dimitroff said. “He’s mostly a Y tight end, a blocking tight end who will catch the ball. You can rely on him. He’s got some nice consistency about him. We’re in the process of talking to him.”
Tight end Jacob Tamme, who opened the past two seasons as the starter, appears headed for free agency. He caught 81 passes in 2015 and had 31 catches before suffering a season-injury pectoral injury after eight games last season.
“Jacob will more than likely get to free agency,” Dimitroff said. “Again, he’ll have some decisions to make as well.”
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
