Vaughn McClure reports that the Falcons have placed the second-round tender worth $2.914 million on restricted free agent S Ricardo Allen.
According to McClure, the Falcons could still sign Allen to a long-term deal before the start of the season.
Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said previously they would be open to signing Allen to a long-term deal, as opposed to having him play out the 2018 season under a restricted tender.
“Yes, I believe we can create space for Rico and a number of other players,” Dimitroff said when asked if they could Allen to a long-term deal rather than use a restricted tender. “That said, we are always striving for creativity. And decisions made on certain free agents, whether they be restricted or unrestricted, oftentimes are contingent on the creativity they enable or not.”
Allen, 26, is a former fifth-round pick of the Falcons back in 2014. He was waived a few months after he was drafted and later signed to the Falcons’ practice squad at the start of the 2014 season.
Allen returned to the Falcons on a one-year exclusive rights contract the past few years and will be a restricted free agent in the coming months.
In 2017, Allen appeared in 15 games for the Falcons and recorded 54 tackles, one interception, and two pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 31 safety out of 86 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding a new deal for Allen as the news is available.
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