Cornerback Justin Bethel, a three-time Pro Bowl selection as a special-teams player, agreed to terms with the Falcons on Saturday.
Bethel, who was a sixth-round pick by the Cardinals in 2012 out of Presbyterian, made it to the Pro Bowl from 2013-15.
Bethel, 27, is listed at 6-foot and 200 pounds. He’s played in 96 games with 14 starts. He has four career interceptions and 116 tackles.
Bethel accepted a $2.5 million salary cut for 2017 in exchange for the opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent.
Bethel was due to make $4.5 million in salary in 2017, the second year of a three-year deal signed in December 2015. Instead, he made $2 million and became an unrestricted free agent after a bumpy season that saw him lose his starting right cornerback spot.
Bethel’s play slipped over the past two seasons as he tried to play through a foot injury. He’ll have to pass the Falcons’ physical before signing his contract.
If signed, he’ll provide depth behind starters Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford and nickel back Brian Poole. The Falcons also re-signed cornerbacks Blidi-Wreh Wilson and Leon McFadden.
Bethel would be expected to impact the special teams’ coverage units.
Overall, the Falcons' special teams were sub-standard last season. They finished in the bottom half of the NFL (22nd) in Rick Gosselin's industry leading rankings.
The coverage unit ranked 32nd (last) in kickoff coverage at 26.2 yards per return.
After signing Derrick Shelby to a one-year, $2.5 million contract and tight end Logan Paulsen to a one-year, $1.005 million contract with a base salary of $720,000, the Falcons have remaining $5,393,482 million under the salary cap, according to NFLPA documents.
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