Print and Go Back ESPN.com: NFL Rumors [Print without images]

Thursday, February 14, 2013
 RB ideas for Atlanta
By Tim Kavanagh
It's expected by some that the Atlanta Falcons will be moving on from veteran RB Michael Turner this offseason -- though they haven't done so yet -- as he's projected to count $8.9 million against the salary cap; the Falcons can save $6.4 million by releasing him.

That's all well and good, but how will they go about replacing him? It's not as tall of a task as we may have thought prior to the 2012 season. During this most recent campaign, Jacquizz Rodgers emerged as a backfield Swiss Army knife, able to do a lot of different things reasonably well. He's not going to get 400 touches a season, but that's not what they need out of him. In order to continue their run of success, the Falcons won't have to spend big in free agency, either, thanks to Rodgers' presence; nor will they have to use a high draft pick.

On that second front, ESPN NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas identified a group of players that could be under consideration for Atlanta in the second round and later this April:

Pat Yasinskas
Time for Falcons to get younger at RB
"Guys such as Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle, Rutgers' Jawan Jamison, Stanford's Stepfan Taylor, Florida's Mike Gillislee, Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell, Nevada's Stefphon Jefferson, Wisconsin's Montee Ball and UCLA's Johnathan Franklin will likely be available anytime from the late second round on, a place where salaries aren't that high. They all have their merits, and each has his flaws. But the Falcons don't need a perfect running back. They just need someone that can complement what Rodgers brings to help them take the next step forward, because they've gone as far as they can with Turner."