Falcons rookie nickel back Brian Poole, who played in all 19 games and made nine regular-season starts, received the largest bonus from the NFL’s performance-based pay system.
In addition to his base salary of $540,000, the undrafted rookie from Florida will receive an additional sum of $371,873.11. The league’s system rewards players for outperforming their contract based on playing time. He set to make $630,000 in 2017.
Dallas rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, who was drafted in the fourth round, receive the second-highest bonus — $355,000.
Poole played 835 defensive snaps (75.2 percent) and 209 special-teams snaps (44 percent).
Poole finished with 58 tackles, one interception, two fumble recoveries and a sack in the regular season. In the playoffs, he tormented Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers while blitzing from the slot in the NFC Championship game, but struggled at times in man-to-man coverage against New England in the Super Bowl.
The 5-foot-10, 211-pound defensive back went undrafted in April after a solid senior season at Florida. In May, Poole answered a call from the Falcons and quickly signed.
Poole is set to get a look at free safety over the offseason, according to Falcons coach Dan Quinn.
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