Falcons won't attempt to re-sign former 1st-rounder Beasley

The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday that they will not pursue negotiations with impending free-agent defensive end Vic Beasley, according to Will McFadden of the team's official site.

Beasley was selected eighth overall by the Falcons in the 2015 NFL Draft. He led the league with 15.5 sacks in 2016 but has accumulated just 18 over the past three seasons.

"As we continue to craft our 2020 roster, we'd like to thank Vic for five years of effort on behalf of our organization," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said.

Beasley, 27, registered eight quarterback takedowns in 2019, the most since his breakout 2016 campaign. His athletic profile and improvements this past season could land him a long-term contract in free agency.

Atlanta's pass rush struggled for most of 2019 and improving it will be a priority for Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn this offseason.

Former first-round picks Takk McKinley and Adrian Clayborn currently sit atop the team's depth chart.