NFL teams
Vaughn McClure, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Falcons sign TE Jacob Tamme

NFL, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos

The Atlanta Falcons have signed free-agent tight end Jacob Tamme, the team announced Thursday.

The deal is for two years with a maximum value of just over $4 million, according to a source.

Tamme, drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round in 2008 out of Kentucky, spent the last three seasons with the Denver Broncos. He has 178 career receptions for 1,703 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven NFL seasons.

"I loved being in Denver, loved my teammates," Tamme said in a text message to The Associated Press while flying to Hawaii on a family vacation Thursday. "It's not easy to leave a place like that. But the opportunity that presents itself in Atlanta is exciting for me, the chance to go in with a new head coach and build something."

Tamme's best year was 2010 with the Colts, when he caught a career-high 67 passes for 631 yards and four touchdowns. He has played six seasons alongside Peyton Manning, both in Denver and Indianapolis.

"Obviously they have a very good quarterback in Matt Ryan, who I'm really looking forward to getting to know," Tamme said of the Falcons. "I'm leaving a good one, too. Ha-ha. That part is tough because Peyton has become a truly great friend of mine and I have been so blessed to be around him and learn from him.

"But this is an exciting opportunity in every way."

The Falcons entered free agency intent on signing a tight end but lost their top two targets when Lance Kendricks turned down more money to re-sign with St. Louis and Niles Paul re-signed with Washington. Former Arizona Cardinals tight end Rob Housler visited Atlanta but didn't immediately sign.

The addition of Tamme doesn't necessarily mean the Falcons are complete at tight end. They return one player with experience at the position in Levine Toilolo, who had his share of drops last season. Tamme, lauded for his ability to catch the ball, could be the short-term solution as the Falcons search for their long-term answer.

The Falcons were on the road working out draft prospects this week. Included on that list was Michigan's Devin Funchess, a projected second-round pick who has played both tight end and wide receiver.

Last year, the Falcons gained a league-low 241 yards from the tight end position, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Falcons tight ends finished 2014 with 33 receptions, which ranked second to last in the league. Toilolo had 31 of those catches.

New Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shahanan is used to getting production out of the position. He had a 70-catch tight end in Houston with Owen Daniels. Last year, often-injured Jordan Cameron had 24 catches for 424 yards and two touchdowns through 10 games under Shanahan in Cleveland.

The Falcons have been void of a true pass-catching tight end ever since Tony Gonzalez decided to retire following the 2013 season. Gonzalez had 70 or more catches in each of his five seasons with the Falcons.

The Falcons also added another tight end in free agency Thursday, signing Tony Moeaki to a one-year deal, according to a source. He played in six games (two starts) for the Seattle Seahawks last season, with eight catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. He was originally selected in the third round of the 2010 draft by the Kansas City Chiefs under then-general manager Scott Pioli, now the Falcons' assistant general manager.

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