Read More: Justin Blalock (G – ATL), Tyson Clabo (OT – ATL), Harvey Dahl (G – STL), Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have made sure their offensive line will only have one depth chart battle this training camp, re-signing LG Justin Blalock, with Jason La Canfora winning the race to report this one. Minutes later, the team itself confirmed the news.

Update: D. Orlando Ledbetter adds that it’s a six-year deal, the longest the Falcons have given anybody this offseason.

Atlanta lost RG Harvey Dahl to the St. Louis Rams but was able to retain RT Tyson Clabo, so hanging onto Blalock became high priority over the weekend. Mike Smith said so himself, y’all.

To this point, the Falcons don’t appear to have lost out on a player that they actually wanted to add. I’m sure they would’ve liked to have hung onto Dahl, but coming in few expected them to be able to keep all three free agent OL, and evidently the choices were Clabo and Blalock. The only major free agents left for the Falcons to re-sign: CB Brent Grimes and RB Jason Snelling. Grimes is all but a sure thing, while it wouldn’t be surprising to see Snelling move along.

Blalock is entering his fifth year in the NFL, all of which have been spent starting for Atlanta. 

Visit SB Nation’s 2011 NFL free agency hub for the latest news on all 32 teams. Head to The Falcoholic to discuss more Atlanta Falcons news and opinion.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Ray Edwards.

A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Edwards would sign a five-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because teams can’t officially sign free agents until 6 p.m. Friday.

Edwards, who spent the last five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, fills a major void on the Falcons defensive line. He had 16.5 sacks the past two years and gives Atlanta another pass-rushing threat along with John Abraham.

Earlier Friday, the Falcons cleared $7.8 million in cap room by cutting defensive end Jamal Anderson and receiver Michael Jenkins.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons have signed wide receiver Julio
Jones, the sixth overall selection in the NFL draft.

The Falcons also signed linebacker Akeem Dent, a third-round
pick from Georgia, and running back Jacquizz Rodgers, a fifth-round
pick from Oregon State, on Thursday.

The Falcons have signed each of their six draft picks in time
for today’s first practice of training camp.

Jones caught 179 passes for 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns in 40
games at Alabama. He is expected to join Pro Bowl receiver Roddy
White as one of quarterback Matt Ryan’s top big-play targets.

NORWOOD: The Falcons have released former Mississippi State star
running back Jerious Norwood.

Norwood’s agent Bus Cook tells The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson,
Miss., that he expects Norwood to sign with another team. He says
the Falcons wanted to go in a different direction with younger
players.

A third-round pick out of MSU in 2006, the 28-year-old Norwood
played in just 57 of 80 regular-season games over the last five
years with the Falcons while dealing with injuries ranging from a
concussion to a hip flexor to a torn knee ligament.

The 2008 season was Norwood’s only season in which he played in
all 16 games.

Michael Turner has established himself as the Falcons’ top
running back, with Jason Snelling passing Norwood last year for the
No. 2 spot.

PETERSON: The Falcons have agreed to a one-year contract with
linebacker Mike Peterson.

The deal was announced Thursday. Free agents can formerly sign
today, when the Falcons are scheduled to hold their first practice
of training camp.

Peterson started 13 games for the NFC South champions last
season, making 79 tackles to go along with two interceptions, two
fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

The signing comes after another linebacker, Stephen Nicholas,
agreed to stay with the team for a five-year deal worth $17.5
million.

The Falcons have a number of key players who are unrestricted
free agents, including starting offensive linemen Tyson Clabo,
Harvey Dahl and Justin Blalock; kicker Matt Bryant; punter Michael
Koenen; and cornerback Brian Williams.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.