Restricted free agent Ricardo Allen is receiving a second-round tender from the Atlanta Falcons, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move means that teams who extend Allen an offer sheet have to give up a second-round pick to Atlanta should the Falcons decide not to match it.
Falcons placed a 2nd-round tender on Ricardo Allen.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2018
Atlanta Falcons Place Second-Round Tender on Ricardo Allen
Allen participated in Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots. In this 2017 postseason matchup, Allen registered seven tackles despite the now infamous overtime loss. While Allen is not the most impressive player in terms of athletic ability, he is an eraser and his good instincts and football I.Q. make up for this shortcoming. He is an above average free safety and a sure tackler in open field. His versatility allows him to play deep but also match up against the slot.
Allen signed a four-year contract in 2014 and became the Falcons’ starting safety for the 2015 season. He finished with three interceptions, one sack, and four passes defended that year. He clocked a win for the Falcons in his first NFL start when he intercepted a pass from Sam Bradford to end the game. Allen touted his ball skills in 2016 when he picked off four passes. He has 212 career tackles, one sack, 10 pass deflections and six interceptions. In 2017, he received $615,000 as an exclusive rights free agent.
Allen played collegiately at Purdue and was a second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection in both 2011 and 2012. As a freshman in 2010, he recorded 73 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, two pick-sixes, seven passes defended. In his sophomore year (2011), he had 79 tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions, one pick-six, one forced fumble and seven passes defended. Allen broke the Purdue record for interceptions for touchdowns in his junior year in 2012 with his fourth career interception for a touchdown.
Allen was drafted by the Falcons in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and was 147th overall. Originally drafted as a cornerback, he was cut by Dan Quinn and subsequently brought back as a free safety by Richard Smith.
