Falcons Considering Releasing RB Devonta Freeman

According to Ian Rapoport, the Falcons are considering making a move to release RB Devonta Freeman.

Rapoport adds the Falcons were in talks to trade Freeman to the Lions at the trade deadline last year, so it would not be a surprise if they went ahead and moved on. 

Freeman hasn’t been able to stay healthy and Rapoport says the Falcons are weighing reallocating cap space to other parts of their team. Falcons TE Austin Hooper is a notable unrestricted free agent for Atlanta this offseason. 

The Falcons could save about $3.5 million in cap space and clear his salary from the books, though it would come with a $6 million dead cap hit, per Over The Cap.

Freeman, 27, is a former fourth-round pick of the Falcons back in 2014. He was in the final year of his four-year, $2.7 million contract when he and the Falcons agreed to a five-year, $41.25 million extension that included $22 million guaranteed.

Freeman stands to make base salaries of $6.5 million and $6.3 million over the next two years of the agreement.

In 2019, Freeman appeared in 14 games and rushed for 656 yards on 184 carries (3.6 YPC) and two touchdowns to go along with 59 receptions for 410 yards receiving and four touchdowns.