With full-blown free agency looming, the Falcons have stayed close to their plan to sign their own players.
On Saturday, they reached terms with safety William Moore and right guard Garrett Reynolds.
Moore agreed to a five-year, $30 million contract, with $14 million guaranteed. Terms for Reynolds’ deal were undisclosed.
“It’s a relief,” Moore said. “That was my ultimate goal, to continue to be here in Atlanta and try to get to the Super Bowl. I’m very pleased with the negotiations.”
The deal can’t be made official until Tuesday, when the NFL’s new year begins.
Moore, who turns 28 in May, was drafted in the second round (55th overall) of the 2009 draft, but missed most of his rookie season with knee and hamstring injuries.
He broke into the lineup in 2010, starting 15 of 16 games. He had 108 tackles and five interceptions.
In 2011, Moore started 11 of 12 games and had 62 tackles and two interceptions.
Last season, Moore turned in a fine season, with 105 tackles and four interceptions. He went to the Pro Bowl when San Francisco’s Pro Bowl safeties Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson reached the Super Bowl.
Moore was fine with not hitting the open market.
“It’s a good problem to have, but at the same time, it’s a process that you hate to go through because you don’t know where the next chapter in your life will end up at,” Moore said. “But I was hoping that I would stay here in Atlanta for the whole time. We just had to work through (free agency).”
Moore didn’t mind that he didn’t receive the team’s franchise tag. If tagged, Moore could have played next season for the Falcons at $6.912 million, which is the average of the top five safeties.
The Falcons used their franchise tag on cornerback Brent Grimes last season. He was paid $10.2 million.
Buffalo placed the franchise tag on safety Jairus Byrd. He was the lone safety of the eight players around the NFL to receive the tag.
“This whole entire process is basically just knowing your value and where you want to stand as a player,” Moore said. “Where you are pitching yourself at. It’s not (anything) personal.”
The Falcons never wanted Moore to reach the open market and ramped up their negotiations as teams were allowed to start calling potential unrestricted free agents Saturday.
“The Falcons were very considerate of my position,” Moore said. “It’s just a blessing to be in this position.”
Moore, who was featured by defensive coordinator Mike Nolan last season, played out his original four-year, $3.4 million deal.
“I remember being in college and working out for the Falcons,” Moore said. “I confirmed to (Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff) that I’d love to come and help get the Falcons to a Super Bowl. Just coming that close (last season), shows that we’ve made that progress over the four years since I’ve been here. I’m sure that with the guys that we have here, the sky is the limit.”
Reynolds opened the past two seasons as the starter at right guard. He was selected in the fifth round (156th overall) of the 2009 draft.
Reynolds started seven games in 2011, before losing his position and being replaced by Joe Hawley.
Last season, Reynolds won an open competition to reclaim his starting spot. He started six games and played in seven last season. He suffered a back injury and was placed on injured reserve Nov. 6.
The Falcons also are trying to re-sign left tackle Sam Baker and defensive tackle Vance Walker.
Also Saturday, former Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson, who recently was released, reached a three-year contract agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs.
