With both starting safeties recovering from season-ending injuries, the Falcons signed some insurance Friday.
The Falcons signed Chris Cooper and Afolabi Laguda to two-year contracts.
Free safety Ricardo Allen (Achilles) and strong safety Keanu Neal (knee) both are trying to come back from injury.
The Falcons elected not to re-sign Jordan Richards, who took over for Neal, while defensive back Damontae Kazee, who took over for Allen, is slated to move to nickel back.
Laguda played at Colorado with Falcons cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who’s slated to take over at right cornerback for Robert Alford.
Laguda, is 6-foot-1 and 214 pounds, signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent last season. He played at Brookwood High. He started his career at Butler (Kan.) Community College before playing at Colorado.
FALCONS SECONDARY
CB 20 Isaiah Oliver, 33 Blidi Wreh-Wilson
NCB 27 Damontae Kazee
CB 21 Desmond Trufant, 38 Taveze Calhoun
FS 37 Ricardo Allen, 41 Sharrod Neasman, Afolabi Laguda
SS 22 Keanu Neal, 40 Ryan Neal, Chris Cooper
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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.
