The Atlanta Falcons are not going to sign veteran cornerback Leon Hall at this time, a league source told ESPN.com.
Hall, 31, visited the Falcons' facility last week. Coach Dan Quinn said Hall was a player capable of helping the defense, but Quinn said the team wanted to fully review Hall's medical history before committing to signing him. Hall tore both of his Achilles in separate incidents during the 2011 and 2013 seasons. He also reportedly had a back procedure this offseason.
Obviously the Falcons felt it was best to go in another direction.
Quinn said he'll always be mindful of cornerbacks and pass-rushers while trying to enhance the roster. The team, of course, has the utmost confidence in Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant and feels fellow starter Robert Alford will flourish as long as he cleans up his technique. The wild card is second-year player Jalen Collins, last year's second-round draft pick out of LSU who had a miserable rookie season.
Collins is suspended for the first four games of the 2016 without pay for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances -- an issue that will stunt his growth. If Collins begins to show signs of the potential the coaches saw in him, he could earn more time outside at corner with Alford moving in to cover the slot in the nickel. The Falcons like Collins' length when it comes to defending taller receivers such as Tampa Bay's Mike Evans and Carolina's Kelvin Benjamin in the NFC South. However, Collins has showed no ball skills at this point.
DeMarcus Van Dyke and Akeem King are the other key figures in the cornerback equation right now in terms of depth. Phillip Adams, who was with the team last season, remains a free agent but wants to return to the Falcons.
