The tone of the Atlanta Falcons’ 2020 offseason has been different than in previous years under general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
Limited cap space has forced the team’s hand in cutting veterans Devonta Freeman and Desmond Trufant, while letting free agents De’Vondre Campbell, Austin Hooper and Vic Beasley sign elsewhere.
That’s simply the price this organization must pay for paying its top players, though. It’s hard to blame Dimitroff for extending Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Grady Jarrett.
As pointed out by Touchdown Wire, 31 NFL players made Forbes’ top 100 highest-paid athletes of 2020, including four Falcons. Ryan, Jones, Jarrett and free agent Dante Fowler Jr. are each set to earn big money in 2020. Let’s look at what TD Wire’s Barry Werner had to say about Atlanta’s highest rollers.
On Fowler. (No. 81):
Dante Fowler signed a three-year, $48 million contract as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in March 2020. This marks his third NFL team as he has been with the Jaguars and Rams. His earnings in 2020 will be $24.2M.
On Ryan (No. 47):
Longtime Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan is riding a long-term contract that will see him earn $24M in salary this year. Add in another $5.5M in endorsements and Ryan is at $29.5M.
On Jarrett (No. 37):
Atlanta’s Grady Jarrett plays every play ferociously and the Falcons love having him in their nest. The defensive lineman weighs in at $33.1M, with almost all of it coming from his NFL contract.
On Julio Jones (No. 26):
Atlanta’s star wideout Julio Jones was a great catch, and the Falcons are paying him as such. Jones will carry $37.5M from the team and another $3M in endorsements, putting him at $40.5M.
It’s tough to remain competitive with so many many big contracts, but the Falcons have the talent to make a run this year if they can avoid another slow start.
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