Tag: “News”

Falcons restructure Matt Ryan’s contract, create $12M in cap space

The Atlanta Falcons have restructured quarterback Matt Ryan’s contract to create $12 million in cap space.

The Atlanta Falcons have restructured quarterback Matt Ryan’s contract yet again. As reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport and PFF’s Brad Spielberger on Friday, the Falcons freed up $12 million in cap space for the 2022 season.

The veteran signal-caller was set to have a cap hit of $48.6 million in 2022 prior to the restructure. With so many teams looking for a quarterback, many had assumed Ryan would be at the focal point of trade talks. But the former No. 3 overall pick’s price tag would have made it unlikely for a move to take place this offseason.

The front office had been hoping not to touch Ryan’s contract as to not further exacerbate the problem. After all, previous restructures are what caused Ryan’s cap hit to become so unmanageable in the first place.

With the extra cash from Ryan’s contract and the $11 million that Ridley’s suspension frees up, the Falcons now have a little more flexibility for free agency, which officially kicks off on March 16.

Ryan threw for 3,968 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for the Falcons last season.

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Report: Falcons among teams ‘eyeing’ Chandler Jones in free agency

The Falcons were named as one of four teams “eyeing” free-agent edge rusher Chandler Jones. 

The Atlanta Falcons were dealt a devastating blow earlier this week when wide receiver Calvin Ridley was given a one-year suspension for betting on NFL games last season.

One positive from Ridley’s suspension is that it frees up over $11 million in cap space for the Falcons in 2022. The team can create more room through extensions and restructures, but with so many positional needs, we don’t expect Atlanta to land any of the big-name free agents.

However, a report from NFL analyst Jordan Schultz names the Falcons as one of four teams — along with the Seahawks, Broncos and Dolphins — “eyeing” free-agent edge rusher Chandler Jones.

Jones, 32, has been one of the NFL’s elite edge rushers for the past decade, racking up 107.5 total sacks since being drafted in 2012 by the Patriots.

In 2017, Jones had 17 sacks and 33 QB hits. Then two years later, he topped that with a 19-sack season in which he forced eight fumbles. After an injury-riddled 2020 season, Jones bounced back for the Cardinals in 2021 with 10.5 sacks, 26 QB hits and six forced fumbles.

Jones has done it all in his career, and recently said he isn’t looking for a major payday.

“It’s not about money at all,” Jones told his former Patriots teammate Logan Ryan on the “NFL Players Podcast” this week. “Where I am in my career, I’ve gotten contracts, I’ve gotten a Super Bowl, but scheme is huge or for me it’s winning more championships. I’ll say it again, it’s not about money. I will say, I want to go to a place that maximizes my talents.”

The money part sounds good for the Falcons, but it’s unlikely Jones would view Atlanta as a team close to winning Super Bowls. With Dante Fowler Jr. out of the picture, the Falcons have a major need at outside linebacker and filling it with Jones would be a dream scenario for the defense.

Free agency kicks off at the start of the NFL’s new league year on March 16.

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Ex-Falcons safety Ricardo Allen joins Dolphins coaching staff

Just 10 days after retiring from the NFL, former Falcons safety Ricardo Allen has taken an assistant coaching position with the Dolphins.

After a seven-year stint in Atlanta, safety Ricardo Allen was released by the Falcons at the start of the 2021 offseason. He eventually landed in Cincinnati last season, helping a young Bengals team reach the Super Bowl.

Allen, 30, announced that he was retiring just 10 days ago, but he now appears to have joined Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel’s staff in Miami as a special teams assistant.

Allen confirmed the rumors when spotted at the NFL scouting combine.

“Yeah, I’m with the Dolphins,” Allen said on Thursday, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Back when he was in Atlanta, Allen talked about his desire to get into coaching one day, and more specifically, to become an offensive coordinator. McDaniel is familiar with Allen from his time as an offensive assistant on the Falcons staff from 2015-2016.

The Dolphins hired Chandler Henley, who served as Atlanta’s assistant offensive line coach in 2021, and recently interviewed Falcons QB coach Charles London for their offensive coordinator gig.

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Falcons met with two of the draft’s top QB prospects

Atlanta has already interviewed two of this year’s top QB prospects at the 2022 NFL scouting combine.

The Falcons are likely rolling with Matt Ryan at quarterback in 2022, but as head coach Arthur Smith reiterated on Tuesday, the team wants to keep its options open.

This doesn’t mean Atlanta is seeking a trade for Ryan, whose $48.6 million cap hit is the highest in NFL history. However, don’t be surprised if the team drafts a quarterback to develop behind the veteran signal-caller.

With the 2022 scouting combine kicking off in Indianapolis on Tuesday, the Falcons have an up-close look at this year’s quarterback class. According to team reporter Tori McElhaney, Atlanta has already interviewed two of the draft’s top QB prospects.

Matt Corral of Ole Miss said he spoke with the Falcons, citing Matt Ryan as an example of someone he wants to emulate in his NFL career.

It wasn’t just Corral, though, as Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett also discussed his meeting with the Falcons. Per McElhaney’s tweet, Pickett watched film with the coaching staff.

Pickett and Corral could each be first-round picks, but perhaps the most exciting prospect in this year’s class is Liberty’s Malik Willis. The dual-threat quarterback was wildly productive in 2021 and could be the first QB drafted.

Willis said he used to watch former Falcons QB Michael Vick when he was growing up.

Whether or not the Falcons pull the trigger on a quarterback in this draft remains to be seen, but they’re definitely doing their research.

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30 defensive prospects the Falcons could target in 2022 draft

Looking at 30 offensive players the Falcons could target in the 2022 NFL draft. 

Depending on what happens in free agency, the Falcons could potentially lose five of last season’s defensive starters. Foye Oluokun, Erik Harris, Duron Harmon and Fabian Moreau could each join Dante Fowler Jr. on the open market.

Regardless of who returns, Atlanta needs to find defensive help in this year’s draft. After looking at 30 offensive prospects on Saturday, let’s check out 30 defensive players the Falcons could target in the 2022 NFL draft.

Falcons to hire Shawn Flaherty as offensive line assistant

Flaherty, a former Miami assistant, fills the vacancy left by Chandler Henley, who took a position with the Dolphins.

After hiring Ryan Pace to be the team’s new senior personnel assistant on Thursday afternoon, it appears the Atlanta Falcons have filled another staff opening.

According to a report by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Falcons have hired Shawn Flaherty as an offensive line assistant.

Flaherty spent the past three years as an assistant coach in Miami. He’ll take the vacancy left by Chandler Henley, who coincidentally left Atlanta for a job with the Dolphins just over a week ago.

As for Pace, he’s got a ton of front office experience after serving as the general manager of the Chicago Bears from 2015-2021. Pace also has a long history with Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot from their time together in New Orleans.

The Falcons still need to hire a new wide receivers coach after the team parted with Dave Brock last week.

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Falcons hire Ryan Pace as senior personnel executive

The Atlanta Falcons named Ryan Pace, the former Chicago Bears general manager, as their new senior personnel executive on Friday.

The Atlanta Falcons and former personnel executive Steve Sabo mutually agreed to part ways a few weeks ago and on Friday, the team named former Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace as Sabo’s replacement.

Pace spent 15 years in New Orleans where he worked alongside Terry Fontenot prior to taking over as the GM of the Bears in 2014.

The Bears fired Pace in January after posting a record of 48-65, with an 0-2 mark in the playoffs over seven seasons. He’s mostly remembered for trading up to draft Mitchell Trubisky over Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes back in 2017.

Regardless of his past mistakes, the Falcons are adding another experienced mind to the front office as they prepare for the 2022 offseason.

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Falcons recap: Charles London to interview with Rams, Draft grades

Falcons quarterbacks coach Charles London is set to interview for the Rams offensive coordinator opening.

The Atlanta Falcons could be on the verge of losing another assistant with quarterbacks coach Charles London set to interview for another offensive coordinator vacancy.

In our Falcons Friday recap, we look at London’s upcoming meeting with the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta goes in two different directions in two new mocks, and we grade the top 10 picks from the 2021 NFL draft.

Free agency: 15 defensive back options for the Falcons

The Falcons have one of the NFL’s most talented cornerbacks in A.J. Terrell, but the rest of the starting secondary is hitting free agency.

The Atlanta Falcons have one of the NFL’s most talented cornerbacks in A.J. Terrell, but the other three starting members of the secondary are headed to free agency this offseason.

Will the team re-sign Erik Harris, Duron Harmon and Fabian Moreau, or will Atlanta look elsewhere? Here are 15 defensive back options for the Falcons in free agency.

 

Falcons recap: Arthur Blank talks future, Ricardo Allen in Super Bowl

In today’s recap, Arthur Blank discusses the futures of Calvin Ridley and Matt Ryan, and a new mock has Atlanta drafting two Georgia players

It had been a quiet Super Bowl week for the Atlanta Falcons until team owner Arthur Blank made the rounds on Wednesday, making some interesting comments about Matt Ryan, Calvin Ridley and Cordarrelle Patterson.

In our Thursday recap, Bengals safety Ricardo Allen is happy to no longer be in Atlanta, Blank discusses the futures of Ridley and Ryan, and Draft Wire drops a new three-round mock that has the Falcons landing two Georgia players.