Mike Silver of NFL Media is reporting that the Falcons and RB Devonta Freeman are negotiating a possible five-year extension that would make him one of NFL’s highest-paid running backs.
According to Silver, Freeman has purchased a $10 million insurance policy to protect him in the event he and Falcons don’t agree to on a long-term extension before the start of the season. Silver adds that the insurance policy cost Freeman approximately $50,000.
Freeman spoke with team owner Arthur Blank following the second day of training camp on Friday.
“He just was like he’s going to take care of me and stuff like that,” Freeman said of the conversation, via Vaughn McClure of ESPN. “He was like, ‘It’s a process. The whole thing is a process. Take it one day at a time.‘”
Freeman added he appreciates Blank’s support and how he’s handled things through the process.
“I’ve been talking to Arthur Blank — I call him A.B. — I’ve been talking to him about the whole contract situation,” Freeman said. “That’s my guy. We text. We talk. That’s why I try to tell the media we have an understanding. As long as we have an understanding, everything is going to be all right and everything is going to take care of itself.”
Freeman, 25, is a former fourth-round pick of the Falcons back in 2014. He’s currently in the final year of his four-year, $2.7 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $1.838 million for the 2017 season before testing the open market as an unrestricted free agent next year.
In 2016, Freeman appeared in all 16 games for the Falcons and rushed for 1,079 yards on 227 carries (4.8 YPC) to go along with 54 receptions for 462 yards receiving and 13 total touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 11 running back out of 62 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding a new contract for Freeman as the news is available.
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