Atlanta Falcons Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Falcons, Ryan Schraeder Rework Contract

March 11th, 2017 at 9:38am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons have created $4.8MM in cap space by converting offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder‘s $6MM roster bonus into a signing bonus, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com.

Schraeder, 28, agreed to a five-year, $30MM extension with Atlanta in November (a deal that, given the free agent tackle market, he may now regret). Originally scheduled to count $7.1MM against the Falcons’ 2017 salary cap, Schraeder will now only take up $2.3MM. He won’t be losing any money, and in fact will likely now be paid earlier. Schraeder’s cap charge will increase by $1.2MM from 2018-2021.

In 2016, Schraeder started 16 games for the second consecutive season, bringing his career total to 46 starts in 58 games. The former undrafted free agent graded as the league’s No. 13 offensive tackle last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Contract Details: Bennett, Bouye, Branch

March 11th, 2017 at 9:13am CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look at the details of some recently-signed free agent contracts:

Martellus Bennett, TE (Packers): Three years, $20.25MM. $6.3MM guaranteed. Base salaries of $900K, $3.6MM, $5.65MM. $2MM roster bonus due on first day of 2018 league year. $600K in annual per-game roster bonuses. $$250K annual workout bonus (link via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
A.J. Bouye, CB (Jaguars): Five years, $65MM. $26MM guaranteed. $10MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $3MM, $13MM, $13MM, $13MM, $13MM. $500K annual workout bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
Alan Branch, DT (Patriots): Two years, $8.45MM. $3MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus. Annual $400K workout and weight bonus of $400K each. $3.55MM available via not-likely-to-be-earned incentives (link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com).
Ted Ginn, WR (Saints): Three years, $11MM. $3MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $2MM, $3MM, $2.5MM. 2018 $500K roster bonus. $500,000 aviailve vie playtime, catches incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
Tanner Purdum, LS (Jets): One year, $980K. $400K guaranteed (Twitter link via Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press).
Brandon Williams, DT (Ravens): Five years, $52.5MM. $27.5MM guaranteed. $12.5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun).
Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB (Falcons): One year, $775K (minimum salary) (Twitter link via Wilson).

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/17

March 10th, 2017 at 9:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

The Bears will sign free agent offensive tackle Tom Compton, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (Twitter link). The 27-year-old has primarily worked as a reserve during his five NFL seasons, having started in just 11 of 44 appearances with Washington and Atlanta. Last season was Compton’s only one as a member of the Falcons. While he played in all of the NFC champions’ games, he didn’t start any of them.
The Cowboys have signed defensive end Damontre Moore, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Moore, a former third-round pick, has appeared in 49 career games but never started a contest. Although he’s posted 10 sacks during his NFL tenure, Moore might be best known for getting cut by the Giants after a headphone-related altercation. He’ll compete for a rotational role in Dallas.
The Chiefs re-signed offensive lineman Mike Person, tweets Terez A. Paylor. Person, 28, was a 14-games starter for the Falcons in 2015 but didn’t see the field last year. Person, who has 31 career starts under his belt, is in the mix for a reserve role for Kansas City.
After being non-tendered by the Seahawks earlier this week, linebacker Brock Coyle has now signed with the division-rival 49ers, per his agency (Twitter link). Coyle is a former undrafted agent, and though he’s never been a full-time starter, he’s appeared in 35 games during his three-year career.
The Jets announced that they’ve re-signed long snapper Tanner Purdum. Purdum has been with Gang Green since 2010 and has appeared in every game during that time.

Dontari Poe Market Heating Up

March 10th, 2017 at 8:47pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although he hasn’t yet found a new home, free agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe is in “high demand,” tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Poe will meet with the Colts on Sunday, while the Jaguars, Raiders, Dolphins, and Falcons also want to set up visits.

The 49ers and Redskins have also been linked to Poe, who recent reports indicate may have to accept a one-year contract. That might change, however, if the massive defensive tackle can generate enough of a market for himself. Poe, who is now on the open market after the Chiefs opted not to franchise him, ranks as PFR’s No. 17 free agent.

Poe served as a lane clogger in Kansas City but was a dynamo in terms of snaps played, logging more than any nose man during his rookie-deal tenure in Kansas City. But his sack totals decreased, plummeting from 10.5 between the 2013 and ’14 seasons (both Pro Bowl slates) to 2.5 combined in 2015 and ’16.

Falcons Re-Sign CB Blidi-Wreh Wilson

March 10th, 2017 at 2:16pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons are re-signing cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson to a one-year deal, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The former third-round pick initially joined the Falcons in late November.

Wreh-Wilson only appeared in a single game in 2016 after being released by the Titans in August. However, from 2013 through 2015, the 27-year-old appeared in 34 games (14 starts) with Tennessee. His best season came in 2014, when he compiled 57 tackles, 10 passes defended, and one interception.

The veteran may have an opportunity to carve out a role behind Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen. He’ll be competing with Sharrod Neasman and Akeem King for snaps in the Atlanta secondary.

Falcons To Cut Tyson Jackson

March 10th, 2017 at 7:50am CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons are releasing defensive tackle Tyson Jackson, a league source tells ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. Jackson had two years and $8.5MM left on his contract. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that Jackson will be cut with the post-June 1st designation.

By cutting Jackson, Atlanta will save $2.65MM against this year’s cap. The defensive lineman originally signed a five-year, $25MM deal with the Falcons in 2014. The move was expected given Jackson’s iffy production as of late.

Last year, Jackson finished out with 13 total tackles and two pass deflections in 16 games (seven starts). The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus rated him as just the No. 67 interior defender in the NFL out of 127 qualified players. His grades for run defense, pass rush, and coverage were all poor in his 389 total snaps. The Falcons are expected to prioritize the pass rush this offseason.

Jackson had started 28 games for the Falcons during his first two years in the organization. During his time in Atlanta, the lineman failed to produce as he had with the Chiefs. The 30-year-old failed to record a sack in any of his three seasons with the team.

Contract Details: Garcon, Baker, Klein, Jones

March 9th, 2017 at 6:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look at some details of the free agent contracts signed today:

Chris Baker, DL (Buccaneers): Three years, $15.75MM. $9MM guaranteed. $1MM in sack incentives each season (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post).
Jack Crawford, DL (Falcons): Three years, $10.3MM. $3.75MM in 2017 (Twitter link via Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com).
Pierre Garcon, WR (49ers): Two years, $23MM. $17MM guaranteed. Options for 2019 ($6MM), 2020 ($8.9MM), and 2021 ($9.6MM) (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
Landry Jones, QB (Steelers): Two years, $4.4MM. $600K signing bonus (Twitter link via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com).
A.J. Klein, LB (Saints): Four years, $24MM. $4MM signing bonus. $9.4MM guaranteed. 2020 season will void Klein is on Saints roster on last day of 2019 league year (via Nick Underhill of the Advocate).
Jeff Locke, P (Colts): Two years, $3.45MM. $1.25MM guaranteed (Twitter links via Ben Goessling of ESPN.com and Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star).
Ryan Mallett, QB (Ravens): One year, $2MM. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Pelissero).
Akeem Spence, DL (Lions): Three years, $9MM. $3.5MM guaranteed. $1MM available via escalators (Twitter link via Peliserro).
D.J. Swearinger, S (Redskins): Three years, $13.5MM. $9MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Kinkhabwala).

Three Teams Interested In WR Andre Roberts

March 9th, 2017 at 5:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Wideout Andre Roberts has drawn interest from several teams, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter). The Patriots, Falcons, and Lions are among the teams eyeing the free agent receiver.

Roberts had a disappointing first season in Detroit, finishing with only 14 receptions for 188 yards and one touchdown. The 29-year-old’s best season came back in 2012 with the Cardinals, when he finished with 64 receptions for 759 yards and five touchdowns. The wideout also has nine career carries for 77 yards.

Roberts would presumably slide in as the Patriots’ fifth wideout, or he could potentially replace Danny Amendola in the lineup. He’d be competing with Devin Fuller and Nick Williams for snaps in Atlanta, while Detroit would presumably continue to use him behind Marvin Jones, Golden Tate, and T.J. Jones.

Falcons Re-Sign Two

March 9th, 2017 at 5:12pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Falcons have re-signed tight end Levine Toilolo and linebacker LaRoy Reynolds, per a team announcement. Toilolo will get $12MM over three years, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The deal includes a $3MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The tight end will earn $1.5MM in the first year, and his salary will then jump to $3.5MM and $4MM. There’s also a $500K receptions escalator added to the deal. Meanwhile, Wilson tweets that it’s a $1.3MM deal for Reynolds, which includes an $850K salary, a $250K signing bonus, and up to $550K in incentives.

The 25-year-old Toilolo has spent the first four seasons of his career in Atlanta, which selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. He has since appeared in 64 straight regular-season games and amassed 62 catches, including 13 last year. While his reception total was low for the NFC champs last season, Toilolo averaged 20.3 yards per grab, added two touchdowns and started in 11 games. He also ranked a decent 27th among Pro Football Focus‘ qualified tight ends.

After spending his first three years between Jacksonville and Chicago, Reynolds found a home in Atlanta in 2016. He made 16 appearances, including three starts, and totaled 23 tackles. The majority of Reynolds’ work last year came on special teams, where he saw action in 57.3 percent of snaps.

Falcons Sign DL Jack Crawford

March 9th, 2017 at 3:00pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons have signed former Cowboys defensive lineman Jack Crawford, reports Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (via Twitter). It’s a three-year contract for the 28-year-old.

The former fifth-round pick had spent the past three seasons in Dallas. After missing most of the 2014 season, the lineman played in all 32 games over the past two years. In 10 starts this past season, Crawford compiled 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus graded the veteran as the NFL’s 106th-best edge defender in 2016, and Crawford earned admirable marks for his pass coverage.

Crawford should provide some depth to the Falcons, who are currently rostering defensive ends Adrian Clayborn, Brooks Reed, Courtney Upshaw, and Derrick Shelby.

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