The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jarrett a candidate for tag; Coleman unlikely to return
INDIANAPOLIS — Falcons coach Dan Quinn said the team will consider using the franchise tag on defensive tackle Grady Jarrett if the two sides cannot reach a new deal by the Tuesday deadline.
“I would say it’s definitely on the table to discuss really thoroughly, but we’ll have to wait until to then to see if a deal can be done first,” Quinn said on Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine.
The franchise tag for defensive tackles was $13.615 million last season. The tag is projected to be more than $14 million for Jarrett.
“The good news is ... that our team and Grady’s team can have good conversations about things that, hopefully we can keep working towards some common ground that would be right for both sides,” Quinn said. “Until, we’ll take all of the time that both sides need. Both sides know that he’s a really important piece.”
Jarrett’s agent has not returned texts or calls.
The NFL has projected its 2019 salary cap will be between $187 million and $191.1 million, a jump of about 5.5 percent. You can expect roughly similar growth in the positional values.
Jarrett would count against the salary cap at that level. Jarrett’s value is very high after a stellar contract season.
OverTheCap.com and ProFootballFocus.com have projected that Jarrett is worth a five-year, $82.5 million deal with $46 million guaranteed. Spotrac has a lower, five-year $76.2 million projection on Jarrett.
Jarrett had 52 tackles, six sacks, 16 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles and eight tackles for losses last season. After his selection in the fifth round of the NFL draft, Jarrett signed a fouryear, $2.527 million deal with the Falcons on May 8, 2015.
Meantime, the Falcons are preparing to part ways with backup running back Tevin Coleman.
“This is one of those moments where football and business intersect,” Quinn said. “There are lot of scenarios that take place.”
Coleman, who was selected in the third round of the 2015 draft, should draw interest on the open market when free agency starts March 13. His representatives are hopeful that he will attract a deal similar to the one that San Francisco signed Jerick McKinnon to last season. McKinnon received a four-year, $30 million deal.
That would be too high for the Falcons to match. The Jets, Colts and Lions are teams looking for running backs.
The Falcons are holding out hope that the market is depressed and they can make a competitive offer.
“We will take it all the way through that to see if we have a chance to bring him back or not,” Quinn said. “We certainly have lots of respect for him for the way he competed. No more so than this year where although it was a lost season for us, to see him demonstrate the leadership at the position where he was not part of his normal tandem with (him) and (Devonta) Freeman. I thought he really handled that well.”
Coleman has been more productive than McKinnon, a former Sprayberry High and Georgia Southern star.
McKinnon, 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds, was selected in the third round (96th overall) in the 2014 NFL draft. He played in 58 games and made 14 starts over his first four seasons.
Coleman, 6-1 and 210 pounds, was drafted 73rd overall. He’s played in 56 games and made 20 starts. With Freeman out last season, Coleman rushed 167 times for 800 yards and four touchdowns behind a line that ranked 31st in the league in stuffed runs of no gain or losses. He also caught 32 passes for 267 and five touchdowns.
Running back Ito Smith played behind Coleman last season as a rookie.
“He certainly took a larger role this year due to the injuries that took place with Devonta,” Quinn said. “I thought he responded for us. He’s got excellent hands out of the backfield. “In our offense that’s a big part of what we do.”
Smith, who was a fourthround pick from Southern Mississippi, rushed 90 times for 315 yards and four touchdowns.