Falcoholinks: All the Falcons news you need for Thursday, July 18

Lots of contract talk today with the extensions of Grady Jarrett right at zero hour and Deion Jones yesterday evening. Dive in to Thursday’s Falcoholinks to learn more.

Grady’s payday

You can finally exhale, Falcoholics, because they key cog on Atlanta’s defensive line put pen to paper before Monday’s deadline and signed a new four-year deal. The Falcons can now count on Grady Jarrett’s talents through at least 2022, and can scratch one of the major line items off of their offseason to-do list.

It’s obviously a massive (and slightly unexpected) development for the team to have Grady Jarrett locked up, and now that’s done, what does it mean for the Falcons?

We’re elated.

Debo’s payday

What a great damn day for the Atlanta Falcons’ future.

With Grady Jarrett signed to an extension, the Falcons immediately turned their attention to otherworldly linebacker Deion Jones. Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and Atlanta would be absolutely out of its mind if they allowed him to even sniff the open market.

That thankfully didn’t happen, as Deion was inked to a four-year, $57 million extension that will keep him in an Atlanta uniform through 2023. This is considerably lower than what many of us anticipated, as Ravens linebacker seemed to set the market with his five-year, $85 million extension earlier in the year.

Deion Jones and Grady Jarrett are arguably the two most important members of the Atlanta Falcons defense, and now they’re both sticking around for awhile.

Julio, you’re on deck.

Matty Ice moments

Our own Adnan Ikic has been charting the career of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in his “Matty Ice Moments” series, and this week he looked at Ryan’s 2012 season — the one where he broke the single-season franchise record for passing yards and passing touchdowns.

2012 was Atlanta’s best season since the 1998 run that culminated in a Super Bowl berth. It, like 1998, also ended on a sour note, but Matt Ryan’s progression that year elevated him into the conversation of the league’s top quarterbacks.

Roster projections

There are numerous players who will be entering camp well aware that if they do not make an impact they could find themselves looking for a new team. With that in mind, The Falcoholic’s Kevin Knight is out with his projection for Atlanta’s 53-man roster projection.