With the start of the new NFL business year at 4 p.m Wednesday, defensive end Vic Beasley’s fifth-year option salary of $12.8 million became fully guaranteed.

The Falcons had announced as far back as last offseason and as recently as the combine that they planned to honor their commitment to Beasley, but coach Dan Quinn said he planned to change how Beasley works.

Quinn wants Beasley, a first-round pick (eighth overall) in 2015,  to be more consistent. Beasley recorded 15.5 sacks in 2016 and was named first-team All-Pro. In 2017 and 2018, he mustered only 10 sacks, five in each season.

“If we stay doing what we are doing, we’ll probably get the same results,” Quinn said recently at the combine. “I’m very much looking forward to having a hands on approach with him.

“I told him by the end of the spring he’s going to either love me or hate me. I’m good with either, but we are going to put it in. He knows the work that it is going to take to play really consistent and I’m looking forward to seeing him do it.”

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Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris (left) and general manager Terry Fontenot, pictured watching University of Georgia Pro Day in March, will have to pare down the roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday. (Jason Getz/AJC 2025)

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