Dontari Poe rumors: Falcons favored to land DT on 1-year deal

Jason La Canfora says the Atlanta Falcons are the likely landing spot for Dontari Poe, but it will be a short-term relationship for now.

The Kansas City Chiefs have expressed their longing to have Dontari Poe back in the fold at the right price, but it appears the 26-year-old defensive tackle is ready to try to build his stock on the open market for a different team. Jason La Canfora has the word that the Atlanta Falcons have the inside track to sign Poe for 2017.

Even after waiting five years to hit free agency, it now seems that concerns about Poe’s back as well as stamina concerns are creeping up at the worst time for Poe.

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Instead of being applauded for his run-stuffing ability, his youth and his two Pro Bowl nods, teams are more concerned about paying a player for his past results that might not translate into the future. After all, back problems for a 350 lb. man who has played as many snaps as Poe will only get worse.

For now, the best move for Poe might be what La Canfora is hearing, to reunite with the general manager who selected him in Scott Pioli, who works alongside Thomas Dimitroff, and help play for a franchise that has all eyes on them after their recent Super Bowl run. The Falcons will lose Tyson Jackson along the line and already watched Jonathan Babineaux leave. They re-signed Courtney Upshaw, but Poe could help as a rotational lineman.

Poe had 1.5 sacks last season and 27 total tackles in 16 starts for the Chiefs last season.