General manager Thomas Dimitroff got a lot wrong as the Falcons declined from 10 yards away from the Super Bowl to three consecutive non-winning seasons. Dimitroff owned up to some of those mistakes after coach/unofficial personnel boss Dan Quinn vouched for him with owner Arthur Blank, allowing Dimitroff to survive for at least another season
But Dimitroff got his biggest decision right when he drafted Matt Ryan and there were other good moves among the bad ones—the Falcons did rise up before falling, after all. One notable personnel win was signing offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder after he wasn’t selected in the 2013 draft.
Schraeder started playing football late in high school and went the JUCO route before ending up at Division II Valdosta State. Now he's a two-year starter coming off his best pro season. Pro Football Focus named Schraeder to its All-Pro team and also counted him among the top 25 breakout players in 2015.
Schraeder is the kind of under-the-radar acquisition that allows teams to fill a big need with a relatively cheap player. Schraeder made $585,000 in 2015, making him one of the lowest-paid starters at his position. But bargains never last long in the NFL and now it’s time for the Falcons to pay up.
Schraeder is eligible to become a restricted free agent soon. His agents are meeting with the Falcons this week and it’s a no-brainer that the team will extend a free-agent tender to Schraeder before the March 9 deadline. That would allow the Falcons to sign Schraeder to a one-year contract and also gives them the right to match any offers by other teams to Schraeder and/or receive compensation if he signs elsewhere.
The only question for the Falcons is the amount of the tender to extend to Schraeder. The Falcons can sign Schraeder to a minimum tender of about $1.5 million but would receive no draft-pick compensation if he leaves because he wasn’t drafted. A second-round tender of about $2.4 million would net them a second-round pick if he leaves and a first-round tender of about $3.4 million would get them a first-round pick as compensation.
A first-round tender would be enough to scare off potential suitors for Schraeder; a second-round tender probably would be enough. Schraeder is in line for a big pay raise either way, and then he can become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
Getting Schraeder for $3.4 million in 2016 would be a relative bargain for the Falcons. That would place Schraeder near the middle of the pack for average salaries for right tackles. The Falcons could work out a long-term deal with Schraeder before the March 9 deadline but don't have much incentive to do so because of the modest amount of the tender. Also, restricted free agents rarely switch teams.
Schraeder is 27-years old and has less wear and tear (and more room to improve) than other players his age. His athleticism is a great fit for the outside zone-blocking scheme embraced by Quinn and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Schraeder has been durable so far.
The Falcons can safely move on from their other two RFAs, linebackers Nate Stupar and Paul Worrilow. After finding and developing Schraeder, the Falcons now have do to what it takes to keep him.
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