The Atlanta Falcons are keeping one of their cornerstone defensive players.
According to a source, the club agreed to a three-year extension with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett on Tuesday, worth up to $17 million per year in new money and $51 million in totality if he reaches certain incentives. $34.5 million is guaranteed in the extension.
The new deal includes the money he was slated to earn in 2022.
The news was reported by a television station.
The fifth-round pick by the Falcons in 2015, who celebrated his 29th birthday last Thursday, was a defensive back out of Clemson. In his second season with Atlanta, Jarrett became a starter. He has started every game for Atlanta since the start of the 2016 season, after making back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2019. He has played in over 100 games in his career, starting 95 of them, with
The son of a former Falcons player moved around a bit from defensive tackle to defensive end in Dean Pees' 3-4 scheme last season.
As the focal point of opposing offensive lines, Jarrett faced triple teams as he tried to work off of blocks.
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said that people will account for him in protection based on the way he plays.
He will become one of the key leaders for the Falcons as they transition most of their roster. He is the second Falcons player to get a long-term extension this year. In the past year, the team has traded quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver Julio Jones to the TennesseeTitans, and receiver Calvin Ridley to the PhiladelphiaEagles due to gambling.
Atlanta is in the middle of restructuring its front seven as well. In free agency, the Falcons signed Rashaan Evans to possibly replace him, while the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Linebacker Foye Oluokun.
The team has brought in three new edge rushers to try and alleviate some of the attention opposing teams give to Jarrett every down. It is possible that Atlanta will give Jarrett more help on the interior.
Jeremy Fowler was a contributor to this report.
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