A little over a month following his release from the Atlanta Falcons, safety Ricardo Allen has found a new home. As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Allen is signing a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Former Falcons’ safety Ricardo Allen is signing a one-year deal with the Bengals, per @DrewJRosenhaus.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 24, 2021
The Falcons selected Allen in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft and he would go on to be one of former general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s best picks. Allen became a starter during his second season, a role he would hold on to for six years, recording 245 solo tackles, 26 passes defended and 11 interceptions.
Cincinnati’s defensive backfield already includes safeties Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell, and Allen gives the team an experienced defensive back that can play multiple spots. His contract simply was no longer going to work for an Atlanta team that was $30 million over the salary cap not long ago.
The Falcons also let Keanu Neal leave for the Dallas Cowboys, and Damontae Kazee could soon follow. Atlanta signed former Raiders safety Erik Harris to help the transition.
Expect the team to add another safety using one of its nine current draft picks in 2021.
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