Falcons release CB Casey Hayward

Falcons release CB Casey Hayward

The Atlanta Falcons released veteran cornerback Casey Hayward, the team announced Friday.

We've released CB Casey Hayward Jr.

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 21, 2023

Hayward, 33, only played in six games as a Falcon, as he struggled to stay on the field due to injuries. Atlanta will save $5 million in cap space by cutting Hayward, per Over The Cap.

Hayward started every game for the Falcons until Week 6, when he hurt his shoulder. He needed shoulder surgery that kept him out for the rest of the year. Before the injury, Hayward was targeted at a heavy clip of 28 times, with opponents catching 16 of those attempts.

The 11-year veteran will hit free agency looking to play for his fifth team. Hayward was drafted by the Green Bay Packers and played for the Chargers for five seasons. Since he left Los Angeles in 2021, Hayward has bounced around, playing a season for the Raiders and then last year with the Falcons.

Atlanta is switching gears in the secondary as a group. The Falcons gave up the 8th-most yards through the air, and the 10th-most touchdowns in the league. Their defense also ranked in the bottom-10 in the league in interceptions, according to NFL.com. Because of the lack of defensive stature, defensive coordinator Dean Pees decided to retire from coaching entirely.

Hayward may be gone, but one player who isn’t going anywhere is A.J. Terrell Jr. Terrell enters the final year of his rookie contract in 2023 and looks to defend his role as the team’s primary cornerback.

New defensive coordinator Ryan Nielson was brought in from New Orleans. With Nielson’s arrival, the Falcons are changing their personnel. They acquired corner Jeff Okudah from the Lions and also made impactful free-agent signings to add to the secondary, with the likes of Jessie Bates and Mike Hughes joining the fold.

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Atlanta could draft a cornerback with the No. 8 overall pick of this year’s draft. The release of Hayward is part of the trend that points to Atlanta undergoing yet another roster reconstruction. The Falcons look to reach the postseason for the first time since 2017.

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