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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Deen Worley

Examining contract details of each Falcons free-agent signing

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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