The Atlanta Falcons have reportedly released former Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Justin Shaffer. Shaffer has spent the past two seasons on the Falcons’ practice squad, but never appeared in a regular season game for Atlanta.
Now, Shaffer is an NFL free agent. He is eligible to sign with another team’s practice squad or to their active roster.
Atlanta drafted Shaffer in the sixth-round with the 190th pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Shaffer’s selection marked the first time in 11 years that the Falcons drafted a Georgia Bulldog. The Falcons also drafted tight end John FitzPatrick in 2022. FitzPatrick remains on the Falcons’ roster along with former Georgia Bulldogs tight end Charlie Woerner, who recently signed a free agent deal with the Falcons.
During the 2021 college football season, Shaffer started at left guard in all 15 of Georgia’s games and he was named to the AP and coaches’ All-SEC second teams. A 6-foot-4, 330-pound guard is still looking to establish himself with regular playing time in the NFL.