Charles Godfrey has landed on his feet with a division rival.
One week after the Carolina Panthers gave him his release, the veteran defensive back signed with Atlanta, the Falconsannounced Tuesday.
Godfrey, a 2008 third-round draft pick out of Iowa, impressed the Panthers immediately upon arrival from the college ranks. He started all 16 games at free safety during his rookie season and eventually signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension in 2011 on the heels of a campaign where he picked off five passes and racked up 84 tackles.
However, he ultimately fell out of favor in Carolina, and his decline in play led to his demotion, where he was supplanted by former Atlanta stalwart Thomas DeCoud in the starting lineup before the season. After amassing only one start and 14 tackles in seven games as a nickelback in 2014, Godfrey was waived and subsequently picked up by the Falcons, who thus completed a de facto swap of safeties.
In order to make room for Godfrey, Atlanta waived safety Sean Baker.
