FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons today signed third round draft pick cornerback Christopher Owens and fifth round selection offensive tackle Garrett Reynolds. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. The Falcons also released offensive lineman Renardo Foster and kicker/punter Robbie Dehaze.
Owens, 5-9, 181 pounds, graduated from San Jose University and finished his collegiate career with 228 tackles (132 solo), 13 interceptions, 20 passes defensed, one sack and seven tackles for loss. His 13 interceptions rank fourth on the school’s career record list. Last season Owens earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors after finishing the season with 68 tackles, eight passes defensed and one interception. He was part of a Spartans defense that ranked 10th in the country and second in the conference allowing an average of only 170.3 passing yards per game.
Reynolds, 6-7, 310 pounds, was voted a second-team All-ACC selection by the Associated Press and a first-team all-conference pick by The ACC Sports Journal following his senior season at the University of North Carolina. He competed in 45 games on the offensive line (starting in 31) and was the starter for his junior and senior campaigns. Reynolds’ size, agility and work ethic allowed him to be consistently graded out as the Tar Heels’ top offensive lineman.
Foster was originally signed as a rookie free agent by the Falcons on May 1, 2007. He competed in seven contests that season before ending the year on the injured reserve list with a knee injury. Foster also spent the 2008 campaign on the physically unable to perform list.
Dehaze was originally signed by Atlanta as a rookie free agent on April 27, 2009.
