Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons restructured Ryan, Bailey and Matthews contracts to create cap space

Credit: AJC

Falcons have decisions to make on more than two dozen players
By
March 23, 2020

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, left tackle Jake Matthews and defensive Allen Bailey all had their contracts restructured to help with the team’s salary cap situation, according to the league’s transaction update.

Also, the Falcons cut punter Ryan Allen on Friday and then re-signed him on Saturday in another contract reduction move.

The amounts of the restructures are not known, but were likely in the form of bonuses that could be moved over the terms of the contracts.

Before the restructures, Ryan’s cap number for 2020 was $24.1 million, Matthew’s $16.014 million and Bailey’s was $5.9 million, according to NFLPA documents.

The Falcons said they were not in "salary cap hell," but they needed to cut several players and complete the restructures to make room for all of their recent moves.

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Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

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