Former Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley, who signed with the Tennessee Titans in March, was placed on the team’s reserve/did not report list Tuesday.
The Falcons allowed Beasley, who was drafted eighth overall in the 2015, to enter free agency after last season. He signed a one-year, $9.5 million deal with the Titans. If he doesn’t play and his contract is voided, the Falcons are projected to lose a fifth-round compensatory pick.
After playing his rookie season with a torn labrum, Beasley had 15.5 sacks during his second season as he helped the Falcons reach Super Bowl 51. After teams adjusted to his speed rushes, Beasley was slow to add counter moves. He was held to five sacks in 2017 and 2018. He had eight sacks last season.
Beasley played more than 3,000 snaps for the Falcons over five seasons and had 37.5 sacks and 11 forced fumbles.
It must be noted that he played for three different defensive line coaches — Bryan Cox, Bryant Young and Jess Simpson.
He played 3,169 snaps, according to Football Outsiders. He played 3,148, according to Pro Football Reference.
Here are Beasley's raw numbers:
• 774 defensive snaps (73.3%) and eight sacks in 2019
• In 2018, 700 (64.2%) and five sacks
• In 2017, 485 (46%) and five sacks.
• In 2016, 671 (60.4% and 15.5 sacks
• In 2015, he played 539 snaps (51.3%) with a torn labrum and had four sacks.
It was no surprise that the team elected to move on from Beasley after he embarrassed the coach over the 2019 offseason.
Coach Dan Quinn stuck his neck on the line for Beasley and announced at the scouting combine that he planned to work with him over the offseason. The team even picked up his $12.8 million fifth-year option, hoping to get something out of their investment.
Instead of running to the building to work with the head coach, Beasley elected to work out at a nearby gym less than 20 minutes from Flowery Branch.
For better or worse, Beasley was perceived as a situational pass rusher, who can’t hold up against the run on first and second downs. He’s viewed as the proverbial one-trick pony, who only has a speed rush.
The Falcons shopped Beasley at the trade deadline in each of the past two seasons and found no takers.
“He’s a speed rusher with no power,” an AFC personnel executive told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the trading deadline in 2019. “Everybody thought they over-drafted him. There are questions about if he loves football.”
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