The Atlanta Falcons continue to re-sign some of their top players as they hand out a new contract to safety Ricardo Allen. The deal looks to be a three-year $19.5 million extension. The team looks to be extending all key players to ensure they still stay relevant in the NFC for years to come.
The #Falcons have agreed to a 3-year extension worth $19.5mil for S Ricardo Allen, source said. Another key part of their group of young players.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 6, 2018
“He’s part of our family and represents the best of everything we’re about on the field, off the field. He’s another one of these guys that will be a Falcon for life.” Falcons owner Arthur Blank told Vaughn McClure.
Atlanta Falcons Sign Ricardo Allen to Three-Year Extension
The Falcons took Allen in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft. After not seeing the field his first year he has ended up being the starting safety for the team the past three years. And he has proven to be very reliable over that span managing to rack up 158 tackles, 10 passes defended, and six interceptions. He is also a great leader in the locker room and a huge part of the team’s culture.
After making the playoffs each of the past two seasons the Falcons have ultimately fallen short of becoming world champs. By maintaining all their keys players for the long term the team hopes to achieve that goal. Allen played a huge part in the Falcons finishing ninth in yards allowed and eighth in points last season.
A Busy Summer for the Falcons
Allen becomes the third Falcon to receive an extension this summer. The team also handed out extensions to quarterback Matt Ryan and left tackle Jake Matthews. In between those deals, the Falcons were also able to restructure Julio Jones‘ contract situation to ensure he got a pay raise as well.
General manager Thomas Dimitroff doesn’t look to be done handing out extensions yet either. Look for players such as defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and Vic Beasley to be next in line for contract extensions.
