Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff “Confident” Long-Term Deal For Devonta Freeman Will Get Done

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff mentioned during an interview with Adam Schein that they want RB Devonta Freeman with the team long-term and plan to discuss a deal in the “relatively near future.”

“Like I’ve said before, we want him here and he’s a very important part of our organization. Contrary to what people were saying around the Super Bowl time with what came out, we’re ready in the relatively near future to have some discussions with their representation,” Dimitroff said. “Devonta, he’s a really good guy, he’s really — as far as his personality — he’s so hyper-competitive. … He’s an urgent, angry runner, which we want and we know is important for us. We want him to be around for years to come and we’re confident that we’ll be able to get it done.”

Dimitroff added that it’s possible that contract talks could extend into training camp.

“We’ve talked about approaching these types of contracts and situations usually going into camp is when we start talking about them and really start having some discussions about it,” Dimitroff added. “That’s not a hard line for us, but in my mind, I like to make sure that we have those kinds of things worked on. You know, look, he’s in a really good space here, he loves being here and he loves playing for Dan Quinn.”

On Tuesday, Freeman told reporters that he still has no plans to holdout for a new contract and his focus remains on football.

“It ain’t hard at all, because I’m good,” Freeman said, via Vaughn McClure of ESPN. “I play football because I love it. … I spoke to other guys about being in similar situations that I’m in right now. The main thing I can do right now is focus on my business, and my business is being the best Devonta Freeman I can be. And business will get taken care of outside of what I do and what I bring. I can just focus on me. When it happens, it happens. It’s going to be a surprise. I’m just patient.”

Freeman added that he’s well aware that this is a business and he needs to be patient.

“I just always wanted to be that guy that never wanted to hold out and leave my guys out there working,” Freeman said. “I understand it’s a business, 100 percent. But I know what I signed up for at the same time. It’s that business, you’ve just got to be patient and take care of yourself.

“(I) feel like you can’t walk around and act sad and have an attitude. That ain’t good for the team, especially when a lot of guys are looking up to you. You have to come in and be a pro on and off the field about it.”

The Falcons have said that they plan to address Freeman’s contract at some point, but there hasn’t been any reported progress up to this point.

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.