If you can’t beat them, remake your team in their image. That must be the Atlanta Falcons’ takeaway after years of struggles to defeat the New Orleans Saints in the long-running NFC South rivalry. On Monday, the Falcons added yet another former Saints player: defensive lineman Kentavius Street.
The Philadelphia Eagles announced that they traded Street to Atlanta in exchange for a swap of late-round draft picks, and the move does make sense from the Falcons’ perspective. They just lost standout defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to a knee injury and Street can help soften the blow as an experienced player at the same position.
It sure helps that Street is surrounded by friendly faces. Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot traded for him after coming up in the Saints front office. He’ll be coached by Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who made the jump to the NFL in New Orleans after coaching Street in college at North Carolina State. And Street will quite literally line up shoulder-to-shoulder with his former Saints teammates David Onyemata and Kaden Elliss, both of whom were signed by Atlanta this offseason.
