One key piece of Falcons business wrapped up Monday. Grady Jarrett signed his franchise tender, the team announced.
The fifth-year defensive tackle is back in the fold and now attached to a $15.209MM salary. This may be the prelude to an extension. While nothing appears to be imminent, this is a good sign for those prospects. The Falcons have just more than three months to finalize an extension with Jarrett.
Arthur Blank said recently he views Jarrett as a “Falcon for life.” The sides were not close on a deal prior to the March deadline to apply franchise tags to players, but this situation now certainly seems like one of the least acrimonious of all the tagged performers in 2019.
One of the league’s top interior defenders in recent years, Jarrett will likely want a deal that either approaches or surpasses Fletcher Cox‘s. The Eagles gave their standout defensive tackle a $17.1MM-per-year extension in 2016, when the cap resided at $155.3MM. The 2019 league year features a $188.2MM cap, pointing Jarrett’s representation to surely seek to top that pact. Although Jarrett has no Pro Bowls on his resume, he is coming off a career-best six-sack season. He graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 interior defender in 2018.
The Falcons hold just $2.62MM in cap space. A Jarrett re-up would increase those funds.
Jarrett is a stud! Falcons need to give this guy what he wants. Key player that makes the entire D better. I would be ok with letting Beasley and Trufant go and reallocate that money elsewhere. This defense is still young and about to get very expensive.