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FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Falcons signed outside linebacker Vic Beasley to a four-year contract worth $14.5 million today.
Beasley was the eighth overall pick in the draft. Beasley, who’s represented by Atlanta super-agent Todd France, received an increase over the deal that last season’s eighth overall pick, Justin Gilbert, signed with Cleveland. He received a four-year deal worth $12.83 million, which included a $7.6 million signing bonus.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Beasley's deal includes a $8.8 million signing bonus.
Beasley was held out of most of the OTA noncontact practice Tuesday because of a strained shoulder, according to coach Dan Quinn.
The Falcons, who are in dire need of help with their pass rush, hope that Beasley will help them elevate what was the league’s worst defense last season.
“I think coach Quinn has a good plan for this team and specifically for my position, the Leo, and this whole defense,” Beasley said on Tuesday.
Beasley was the team’s only unsigned rookie draft pick.
“I’m not worried about that,” Beasley said on Tuesday. “It’s all about football and being just the best that I can be. The contract should be done here pretty soon.”
The Falcons have high hopes for Beasley, who recorded 33 sacks in his career at Clemson.
“He’s got an opportunity to be real special,” Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith said. “He’s been limited a little bit just to individual drills.”
Beasley, who’s from Adairsville, has impressed his new coaches.
“I like his attitude, his quickness and his ability to rush the passer,” Smith said. “Overall, he’s competing for a position just like everybody else.”
Smith spent the past four years as the Denver Broncos’ linebackers coach. He saw the team draft Von Miller second overall in 2011. Miller had 11.5 sacks as a rookie and registered 49 sacks in his first four seasons.
After he was drafted, Beasley stated that he viewed himself as a double-digit sack player.
“He’s got great speed and quickness, very similar to Von Miller,” Smith said. “I’m not saying he’s Von Miller. He’s got to go out there and do that, but if you talk to Vic he’d tell you that (Miller is) one of the players that he’s watched over the years. But he does have that elite quickness very similar to what Von Miller had when he came out of college.”
Falcons defensive line coach Bryan Cox concurs with the notion that Beasley is a work-in-progress.
“You saw all of the stuff that he did in college,” Cox said. “A good first step, quickness and good closing speed. His strength is definitely in the pass-rush aspect of it. He’s coming a long.”
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