'Tough as Nails!' Meet Falcons' Dark Alley Leader

When the Atlanta Falcons signed former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata on the opening day of free agency, Arthur Smith had an innate understanding of what his team was getting.

The Falcons' third-year coach had seen Onyemata five times before, four in Atlanta and once as the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans.

The result? Strong production from Onyemata to the tune of 19 tackles, three quarterback hits and half a sack ... along with making a lasting first impression on Smith.

"He was a pain in the ass to game plan against when I was in Tennessee," Smith said. "That's a huge compliment."

Respect between the two grew from there, and the possibility of Onyemata joining the Falcons only heightened this spring with the hiring of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who coached the Lagos, Nigeria, native across the past six seasons.

And so, Onyemata signed a three-year, $35 million contract with Atlanta, ridding Smith of the "pain" that comes with game planning against him each year.

But Onyemata brings much more to the Falcons than just on-field attributes; there's the seasoned veteran and habitual worker, the authentic leader and dreaded opponent ... and now, the Falcons' next great hope on the defensive line.

Grady Jarrett isn't one to spare words.

The two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle is highly respected around the league and holds the honor as one of the best leaders Smith has been around; when there's something that needs to be said, Jarrett will say it, without hesitation.

Take, for instance, his comments following Atlanta's Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last season, which secured the fifth-straight playoff-less year for the Falcons.

"Disappointed," said Jarrett. "You try so hard, but same s***, different year."

A common theme of that "same s***" for the Falcons is a lack of performance alongside Jarrett on the defensive line. It hasn't been for a lack of effort, as Atlanta has rolled several bodies into the rotation throughout the past handful of years, largely to no avail.

In 2022, the Falcons' defensive tackles had a pressure rate of just over five percent, placing them at No. 30 league-wide, per Next Gen Stats. Ta'Quon Graham emerged as a capable presence last season, logging eight quarterback hits in 11 games before suffering a torn MCL that cut his campaign short.

But still, the Falcons' pass rush as a collective has only 39 sacks in the last two years, last in the NFL by some 23 and a half sacks to the next-worst team.

Enter Onyemata, the 2016 fourth-round pick who had a 10.6-percent pressure rate, eighth-best across the NFL, in addition to five sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

Jarrett and Onyemata are well acquainted with one another, having met over the years via mutual friends in addition to the number of times they've played each other.

There's a mutual respect between the two parties, with Onyemata pointing out Jarrett's three-sack performance in Super Bowl LI and Jarrett noting Onyemata's stature as one of the top defensive tackles in the league.

This confidence expands beyond the duo, with coaches and front office members alike stressing the value that both Jarrett and Onyemata ... but perhaps nobody is more optimistic than themselves.

"The sky's the limit with this combination," said Onyemata, on he and Jarrett. "I've known about Grady for the longest time. Knowing what kind of player he is, knowing what kind of respect he commands out there, and just being able to complement that and have us go out there and make plays."

Added Jarrett, on Onyemata: "A guy that brings it to work every day. You don't get to be the player that he is without doing that. We definitely need that kind of work ethic day in and day out (on) this team."

There aren't too many people who can make the 6-4, 300-pound Onyemata look small, but Calais Campbell is one of them.

At 6-8, 300 pounds, Campbell naturally has that effect on others - especially opposing quarterbacks. A stellar 15-year career has the 36-year-old with 99 sacks, 165 tackles for loss and 237 quarterback hits.

Campbell joins Onyemata as a key piece to the rebuild the Falcons have undergone up front, ignited by Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot's emphasis on offensive and defensive line play.

Naturally, the two big-bodied defenders were familiar with one another's skill set, having crossed paths several times over their professional careers, but never really knew each other.

Campbell noted during his introductory press conference that he respected Onyemata's game, but still, there promised to be a learning process for both veterans.

The biggest takeaway thus far? Campbell, the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year, is impressed with Onyemata's presence ... and may have found his long-time bodyguard in the process.

"He's tough as nails," Campbell said. "He's one of those dudes that I feel like you don't want to get into a fight with. He's got some extra juice down there. Strong hands, violent, explosive and he definitely has that want-to. I'm glad he's on my team."

The same sentiment is shared by Falcons All-Pro right guard Chris Lindstrom, who directly battled Onyemata four times in the trenches of one of the league's fiercest rivalries.

Lindstrom, a first-round pick in 2019 who's now a pillar on Atlanta's offense, has seen firsthand how skilled Onyemata is, and better yet, how much of a "pain in the ass" to play against, as Smith phrased it.

As such, Lindstrom is as familiar with Onyemata's impact as anybody on the Falcons' roster ... and he's all in on what the 30-year-old brings to the table.

"I’ve played David for four years - he’s one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL in my opinion," Lindstrom said, succinctly.

But Onyemata's looming value extends beyond that. Smith has mentioned throughout the offseason that he anticipates a highly competitive training camp, in large part due to the influx of talent he and Fontenot added this spring.

Not to be lost in that notion is the idea of iron sharpening iron; rather than seeing Onyemata twice a year, Lindstrom will get to face him each day in practice, only bettering the already stout skill set of the Falcons' lone Pro Bowler from a season ago.

"I got to play him a couple times, played him last year, and you can just tell, he's a player who's, over the years, got better and been playing at a high level," Onyemata said. "Like last year, the season he put together, he locked it down.

"Getting to practice against Chris on the daily, I think that will be great."

Thought oft overused, Lindstrom and Onyemata define iron sharpening iron - and both are all for it, fueled by mutual respect and a desire to avoid complacency ... along with strong leadership that filters throughout the Falcons' youth-filled locker room.

It's become something of a running joke how many players the Falcons have signed with ties to the Tennessee Titans and/or Chicago Bears ... but it's no coincidence.

Smith, Fontenot and the rest of Atlanta's leadership group have harped on the importance of knowing the true value of each player they bring in, especially off the field.

As such, when tasked with wisely investing over $60 million this offseason, it's no surprise that Fontenot and Nielsen, who both spent several years in New Orleans, turned to Onyemata, a proven game-changer in multiple facets.

And really, this was the theme of Atlanta's free agency class - high-floor additions to ensure there's progress being made and the opportunity to spend big money wasn't wasted.

But this doesn't take away from the Falcons' ceiling, either. Just ask Smith, who cited the New England Patriots' run of dominance under coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, spanning from the early 2000s through late 2010s.

Smith pointed out that the Patriots often signed free agents from within their division and had plenty of success, be it Wes Welker, Stephon Gilmore or one of several others who fit the bill.

And while the Falcons are focused on winning their own way, Smith and Fontenot aren't close-minded or hesitant to look at what's worked in the past ... and in this case, the duo is following a path well-traveled.

"A lot of times if you study history, there's a lot of mistakes that have been made in free agency and you're trying to gather a lot of information," Smith said. "You'll never be perfect, but you feel like you've got a pretty good understanding, especially in your division." 

Smith's difficulties game-planning against Onyemata were one thing, but inside Atlanta's buildings, high internal praise spread throughout.

Lindstrom standing in front of a microphone and dubbing his new teammates as one of the league's top defensive tackles is one thing, but doing it behind the scenes with the coaching staff is another ... and that's largely been the case from a number of Falcons offensive linemen, only adding to the confidence that Onyemata will deliver big returns this fall.

"David, having tried to scheme against him four times and '19 in Tennessee, you hear it just listening to your players," Smith said. "Who are the guys that they hate blocking? So, you get those guys and hopefully David continues to take another step, but glad he's got on the Falcons logo and not the Saints."

It's clear through the first few months of Onyemata's time in Atlanta that he's well-respected by his peers, which ultimately says more than anything - but it's important to understand why.

By in large, it goes beyond his high pressure rate or heavy hands; sure, those have helped create the on-field wrecking ball that ultimately warranted his contract, but really, the overarching answer is his personality and impact on those around him.

Better yet, Onyemata serves as a shining light reflective of the rest of Atlanta's free agency group ... and is quickly becoming a key reason why Smith and Fontenot are so optimistic about the culture they've established.

"I always think that leadership needs to be authentic, and a guy like David, you know where he's at in his career," Smith said. "It's those habits that you respect - him and Jessie (Bates), those habits are real (and) you feel their presence. Guys kind of gravitate towards them."

As for Onyemata, the University of Manitoba alum has heard - and felt - the praise, but remains as motivated as ever to dominate at the sport's highest level and show that Smith, Fontenot and the Falcons' leadership was right in their belief in him.

"It's great, but the biggest thing is just coming here and proving that to you," Onyemata said. "Last year is last year; every year is a new season. You've got to go out there and show the things you've been showing and improve on certain things, as well."

And if Onyemata can build on the already impactful presence he's asserted in years past, it's possible that the wait to help the pass rush, find a running mate for Jarrett and add a dark alley leader will have been worth it all along ... and could net a return much greater than the $35 million investment the Falcons have made.