During the offseason, the Falcons, having finally overcome the burden of dead cap left by the previous management, made significant moves in the player market. Not only did they extend lucrative contracts to their existing players, but they also actively participated in free agency without any financial constraints.
One of the notable contracts was awarded to Chris Lindstrom, who, coming off a season that earned him All-Pro honors, secured a historic deal. The former first-round pick set a new NFL record for guards, signing a five-year, $105 million contract. This deal broke records in various categories, including Average Annual Value (AAV), guarantees, and total money.
Shortly after, the Cowboys surpassed Lindstrom’s deal in certain aspects by giving Zack Martin a new contract, adding $36 million over two years to his existing agreement. Before this extension, Martin was slated to earn approximately $7 million less than players like Nelson and Lindstrom, having signed a seven-year, $93.41 million deal in 2018.
In addition to Lindstrom, the Falcons also secured a significant deal for Jessie Bates, a standout in the free agent market. Bates received a $64 million contract, with $36 million allocated for the first two seasons and the remaining $28 million for the last two. This contract for Bates is being viewed as a benchmark for free agents, particularly in the safety position. According to ESPN, a top safety in March is anticipated to command around $16 million per year on a new deal, with an average of $18 million per year over the initial two seasons – figures closely resembling what Bates received in his March deal with the Falcons.
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