One player that somehow avoided serious discussion this week is defensive end Ray Edwards, who is coming off a solid run in Minnesota, establishing himself as a capable defender against both the run and the pass.

That led many to believe he’d be a hot commodity once free agency got started, but after watching most of the big names get locked up with major contracts, Edwards had to wait until now to finally get his turn in the spotlight, signing a five year deal with the Falcons that will pay him $30 million, with $11 million guaranteed.

Atlanta now has a solid if not spectacular tandem at the defensive end position, with Edwards and John Abraham coming at opposing quarterbacks from different directions, and wreaking havoc more often than not. That will be hugely important in both the regular season and the playoffs against the NFC’s passing juggernauts in the Saints, Eagles, and Packers.

Edwards’ former team, the Vikings, never really had a shot at re-signing him, especially after seeing what the going rate would be for defensive players headed into the prime of their career. Minnesota will now have to rely more heavily on defensive end Jared Allen and defensive tackle Kevin Williams to generate a consistent pass rush, allowing opponents to scheme them away from the ball when necessary.