Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff clearly wasn't sending out a smokescreen earlier this offseason when he spoke of his team's need to add more size and toughness at the line of scrimmage. The club's free-agency activity proved he meant what he said.
What's less clear is whether Dimitroff considers that need satisfied yet, and with the team conducting a private workout Monday with former Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, the answer might be no.
Lewan is considered one of the draft's top three offensive-tackle prospects, along with Texas A&M's Jake Matthews and Auburn's Greg Robinson. He's also reputed to have a measure of toughness that Dimitroff was in the market for from the moment free agency began.
Atlanta has added three new free-agent linemen, and re-signed five of their own linemen who could have left the club, including defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux. It is worth noting, however, that of the eight linemen Atlanta either acquired or retained in free agency, none play offensive tackle. NFL Media analyst Charles Davis projects Atlanta to select Matthews, and analyst Daniel Jeremiah has identified offensive tackle as one of the clubs three primary draft needs.
Dimitroff certainly has done a lot to make Atlanta more physically imposing up front next season, on both sides of the ball.
On May 8, he might just stick with the theme.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
