Falcons make Tyson Jackson a post-June 1 cut

The Tyson Jackson era in Atlanta is over, and the Falcons are handling it in the most team-friendly way possible. The team has designated Jackson as a post-June 1 cut, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

Applying the post-June 1 designation allows the Falcons to spread the $3.2 million cap hit resulting from Jackson’s remaining guaranteed money over two years. As a result, Atlanta will absorb $1.6 million in dead money this year, and $1.6 million will carry over to next year.

It also increases the cash Atlanta will have to spend against the cap. Had they not applied the post-June 1 designation, the Falcons would have eaten the full $3.2 million in dead money in 2017, and they would have gained just $2.65 million in cap space. With the post-June 1 designation, they’ll gain $4.25 million in cap space this year.

Right now, Over The Cap estimates that the Falcons have just over $20 million in available cap space, but that’s with the full $3.2 million absorbed from Jackson’s cut being immediate. That number will go up to about $21.6 million once that post-June 1 aspect is applied.

The NFL allows teams to designate up to two players as post-June 1 cuts, so the Falcons still have one in their back pocket should they want to part ways with any other players.

The Falcons don’t have a ton of cap space to make a splash in free agency, but for the first time in many seasons, there isn’t a tremendous need to do so. With such a deep defensive draft on the horizon, the team can address needs easily without breaking the bank. But designating Jackson as a post-June 1 cut is smart and does give the team a bit more cash to work with this offseason.