Blalock is expected to retire this offseason, NFL.com reports. Blalock, a second round pick in 2007, was released by the Falcons in February having started all 125 games played throughout his eight-year career. Now, at 31 years old, Blalock appears content with hanging up his cleats rather than signing a contract with a team elsewhere.

Falcons LG Justin Blalock is scheduled to count $7.66 million against the salary cap in 2014 and could be a candidate for a contract extension. Blalock inked a six-year deal ahead of the 2011 season and has two years left on that contract. He's still playing at an above-average level and was inarguably Atlanta's top offensive lineman this past season. Blalock just turned 30 years old. Interior linemen age better than other positions on the field.

Falcons agreed to terms with LG Justin Blalock. GM Thomas Dimitroff did well to keep Blalock and RT Tyson Clabo after preparing for the worst this offseason. Last year's third-rounder Mike Johnson will step in at right guard for Harvey Dahl, leaving Matt Ryan with an above-average offensive line once again. Solid across the board and still just 27, Blalock graded out as Pro Football Focus' seventh-ranked left guard in 2010.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution expects LG Justin Blalock to price himself out of the Falcons' range in free agency. We guessed that Blalock would be the one free agent offensive lineman Atlanta would work hard to retain because he's younger than Harvey Dahl and Tyson Clabo. The AJC disagrees. A 27-year-old power blocker at 6-foot-4, 329, Blalock would be an excellent fit in Minnesota with old Falcons QBs coach Bill Musgrave. The Falcons are going to have a lot of turnover on the line.