The Falcons continued to shape their roster to G.M. Thomas Dimitroff’s liking, cutting 13 more players Saturday to get down to the league’s 53-man limit.
And if you want to judge a roster by the quality of players the team can release, the Falcons are making progress, but have a long way to go.
We previously mentioned that local favorite D.J. Shockley was cut. The rest of the unlucky 13 cut Saturday: wide receiver Troy Bergeron, running back Thomas Brown, offensive lineman Michael Butterworth, wide receiver Robert Ferguson, linebacker Robert James, wide receiver Aaron Kelly, defensive end Maurice Lucas, cornerback William Middleton, tight end Jason Rader, quarterback D.J. Shockley, offensive guard Jose Valdez, defensive tackle Vance Walker and linebacker Jamie Winborn.
Middleton was the second pick of the fifth round, so his inclusion on this list is a disappointment. Walker was a seventh-round pick this year, one of seven defenders the team drafted.
Brown was sixth-round pick last year, but never developed into the short-yardage hammer the Falcons were hoping for. (Plus they already have one of the best.) Ferguson was signed when Roddy White’s holdout started, but he was no longer useful.