ESPN: Ricardo Allen signs second-round tender, will play for Falcons in 2018 for $2.9 million

The Atlanta Falcons have had a few players itching to get paid, and so far, Matt Ryan has been the only notable extension this offseason. Julio Jones is quietly (?) staying away from OTAs to let the team knows he wants a little more cash. Ricardo Allen, starting safety, has been slow to sign his second-round tender with the team.

These situations can turn into a huge headache sometimes, but per ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, this won’t be one of those times.

Falcons FS Ricardo Allen has signed his restricted free-agent, second-round tender worth $2.914 million.

Vaughn notes that the Falcons could extend Allen on a multi-year deal before the start of the season. The team certainly has some cap space, but popular opinion has been that Allen leaves in free agency while the team tries to keep a number of great players, and also Jake Matthews. It does not help that Atlanta has hard-hitting Damontae Kazee waiting in the wings.

Allen has been instrumental in Atlanta’s defensive turnaround, and has quietly become of the league’s best young safeties. His future is certainly clouded with a wonky safety market this offseason, but a stand-out season should help his case for a huge deal next year. He comes in at a very reasonable $2.9 million.