Examining contract details of each Falcons free-agent signing
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The Atlanta Falcons were one of the league’s most active teams at the start of free agency, however, when you have the second-most available space, spending big money comes with the territory.
Now that the player contracts have officially been signed, we can get a better idea of the team’s overall salary cap picture. The Falcons have $20.9 million left, according to Over The Cap‘s projections.
Here’s a breakdown of the contracts for each player the team has acquired in free agency thus far.
RG Chris Lindstrom: Extension
(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Year | Age | Base Saary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2024 | 27 | $12,500,000 | $5,500,000 | – | $12,500,000 | $18,000,000 |
2025 | 28 | $14,500,000 | $5,500,000 | – | – | $20,000,000 |
2026 | 29 | $16,000,000 | $5,500,000 | – | – | $21,500,000 |
2027 | 30 | $15,750,000 | $5,500,000 | $2,000,000 | – | $23,250,000 |
2028 | 31 | $17,250,000 | – | $2,000,000 | – | $19,250,000 |
Contract value: 5 years / $102.5 million
RT Kaleb McGary: Re-signed
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Year | Age | Base Salary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2023 | 28 | $3,500,000 | $2,000,000 | – | $3,500,000 | $5,500,000 |
2024 | 29 | $10,500,000 | $2,000,000 | – | $5,500,000 | $12,500,000 |
2025 | 30 | $14,500,000 | $2,000,000 | – | – | $16,500,000 |
Contract value: 3 years / $34.5 million
TE Jonnu Smith: Trade (New England)
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Following his trade to Atlanta, Smith agreed to take a pay cut for 2023 and 2024, and was given a $5 million signing bonus to cover the reduced pay. Smith’s salary dropped to $8.5 million from the original $11 million in 2023 and saw his 2024 salary drop from $12 million to $6.5 million. His $5 million signing bonus is included in his 2023 base salary, but for accounting reasons, is prorated over two seasons, thus cutting the cap hit in half for the bonus.
Year | Age | Base Salary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2023 | 28 | $3,500,000 | $2,500,000 | – | $3,500,000 | $6,000,000 |
2024 | 29 | $6,500,000 | $2,500,000 | – | – | $9,000,000 |
Contract value: 2 years / $15 million
S Jessie Bates: Free Agent
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Year | Age | Base Salary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2023 | 26 | $1,080,000 | $4,500,000 | $3,920,000 | $5,000,000 | $9,500,000 |
2024 | 27 | $13,000,000 | $4,500,000 | – | $13,000,0000 | $17,500,000 |
2025 | 28 | $14,000,000 | $4,500,000 | – | – | $18,500,000 |
2026 | 29 | $13,020,000 | $4,500,000 | $1,000,000 | – | $18,520,000 |
Contract value: 4 years / $64.02 million
DL David Onyemata: Free Agent
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Year | Age | Base Salary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2023 | 31 | $1,165,000 | $4,000,000 | $2,835,000 | $4,000,000 | $8,000,000 |
2024 | 32 | $8,500,000 | $4,000,000 | – | $8,500,000 | $12,500,000 |
2025 | 33 | $10,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $500,000 | – | $14,500,000 |
Contract value: 3 years / $35 million
QB Taylor Heinicke: Free Agent
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Heinicke has a per game roster bonus of $680,000 in both 2023 and 2024, with another bonus listed as “other” for $700,000 in 2023.
Year | Age | Base Salary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2023 | 30 | $1,320,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,320,000 | $5,700,000 |
2024 | 31 | $5,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,320,000 | – | $9,000,000 |
Contract value: 2 years / $14 million
LB Kaden Elliss: Free Agent
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Elliss has been given a per game roster bonus of $340,000 for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Year | Age | Base Salary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2023 | 28 | $1,080,000 | $1,750,000 | $1,330,000 | $2,410,000 | $4,500,000 |
2024 | 29 | $6,410,000 | $1,750,000 | – | $2,500,000 | $8,500,000 |
2025 | 30 | $6,410,000 | $1,750,000 | – | – | $8,500,000 |
Contract value: 3 years / $21 million
EDGE Lorenzo Carter: Free Agent
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Lorenzo Carter saw his last contract automatically voided this offseason, thus hitting the Falcons with $1 million in dead cap. Carter was then re-signed to a new deal shortly after his prior contract was voided.
Year | Age | Base Salary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2023 | 28 | $3,250,000 | $1,000,000 | – | $3,250,000 | $4,250,000 |
2024 | 29 | $3,750,000 | $1,000,000 | – | – | $4,750,000 |
Contract value: 2 years / $9 million
WR Mack Hollins: Free Agent
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Year | Age | Base Salary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2023 | 30 | $1,080,000 | $910,000 | $510,000** | – | $2,500,000 |
** = Per Game Roster Bonus
Contract value: 1 year / $2.5 million
CB Mike Hughes: Free Agent
(Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Hughes has a per game roster bonus of $595,000 in 2023 and 2024.
Year | Age | Base Salary | Pro. Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Hit |
2023 | 26 | $1,080,000 | $750,000 | $660,000 | $1,740,000 | $3,050,000 |
2024 | 27 | $2,570,000 | $750,000 | $0 | – | $3,915,000 |
Contract value: 2 years / $6,965,000
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