FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons pass-rusher Vic Beasley Jr. wants to be big and physical enough to contend with powerful offensive tackles. At the same time, Beasley doesn't want to be too heavy and lose his signature speed going into the 2017 season.

Beasley, who appears to have put on more muscle, said he weighs between 240 and 245 pounds right now. The 6-foot-3 Beasley was listed at 246 pounds last season, but that might have been a little generous.

"It fluctuated around 240, 235," he said.

So what's the ideal playing weight for Beasley?

Falcons pass-rusher Vic Beasley led the NFL with 15.5 sacks last season. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

"I feel good at anything, but no more than 250," Beasley said. "I just want to keep my speed and keep my nimbleness so I can get around the tackles."

Beasley led the NFL with 15.5 sacks last season. He accounted for 46 percent of the Falcons' 34 sacks, which was the highest team sack percentage of any player in the league in 2016.

The Falcons secured more pass-rush help for Beasley with the additions of first-round draft pick Takkarist McKinley, an edge rusher from UCLA, two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dontari Poe from the Kansas City Chiefs and defensive lineman Jack Crawford from the Dallas Cowboys. They also get defensive linemen Adrian Clayborn (biceps) and Derrick Shelby (Achilles) back from season-ending injuries.

And seven-time Pro Bowler Dwight Freeney recently told Sirius XM NFL radio he's talking with the Falcons about making a return, although the team didn't immediately confirm having mutual interest. Freeney signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Falcons in August of last year and was instrumental in mentoring Beasley. Such could be the same case with McKinley this season, if the Falcons decide to go that route. According to NFLPA figures, the Falcons have just over $6 million in cap space.

However it unfolds, Beasley is the unquestioned central figure in the pass-rush equation. Beasley told ESPN he plans to work out with Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller in San Francisco before the start of the season, provided they coordinate their schedules before training camp in late July.

New Falcons defensive line coach Bryant Young talked about the next step for Beasley.

"I think it's just continuing to pick up where he left off and then finding ways where he can continue to get better," Young said. "Even though he had a very productive year, there are always ways that you can improve. It's being able to identify those things and working on those things, then continuing to move forward."