Terrell McClain’s new deal is heavy on the incentives, comes with just a $1.475 million cap hit

Terrell McClain signed with the Falcons for a contract that was originally reported as a one year deal worth over $4 million. That seemed a bit pricy for a team that had just used a third round pick on Deadrin Senat and already had Grady Jarrett and Jack Crawford at the position, but it was also an undeniable upgrade over what Atlanta had. The signing was rightly applauded at the time.

Now, though? McClain looks like a dang steal.

McClain might very well earn $4 million-plus in 2018, but he’ll do so by playing a lot and playing well. His base salary, if Over The Cap is correct, is absurdly cheap for a starting-caliber player, even if he’s best suited as a two down option. McClain’s role this year isn’t established just yet, but he should get plenty of run next to Grady Jarrett on obvious run downs, and he remains a solid player in that role. We’ll get a better sense of how these snaps are going to be divvied up as the summer rolls on, but suffice to say McClain’s likely to have a role larger than his base salary would suggest.

The Falcons now go four deep at defensive tackle, and assuming good health for Crawford and a solid rookie season from Senat, they may have one of the better groups in the NFL. This defense is full of riches, and McClain is a surprisingly affordable addition to the roster.