Terry Fontenot alluded to an A.J. Terrell contract extension last offseason, and now it’s a waiting game for the Falcons 2020 first-round pick’s big payday.
Terrell is slated to make $12.344 million this season under his fifth-year option and is eligible for an extension this offseason. Last year, it was Chris Lindstrom up for a new contract, who the Falcons made the highest-paid guard in the league.
Like Linstrom, Terrell has earned All-Pro honors. Though he hasn’t replicated that incredible 2021 campaign in 2022 or 2023, it’s important to remember how volatile cornerback play can be compared to offensive guards.
Here are some contracts that the Falcons will consider when discussing a potential contract extension via Spotrac:
| 1 | Denzel Ward | 24 | 5 | (Value) $100,500,000 | (AAV) $20,100,000 | (Sign. Bonus) $20,000,000 | (Guaranteed @ Sign.) $44,500,000 | (Practical Guaranteed)$71,250,000 |
| 2 | Â Marshon Lattimore | 25 | 5 | $97,603,000 | $19,520,600 | $7,500,000 | $34,103,000 | $58,103,000 |
| 3 | Â Marlon Humphrey | 24 | 5 | $97,500,000 | $19,500,000 | $20,000,000 | $40,324,566 | $67,324,566 |
| 4 | Â Trevon Diggs | 25 | 5 | $97,000,000 | $19,400,000 | $21,250,000 | $33,304,000 | $42,304,000 |
Spotrac projects Terrell’s market value just under Denzel Ward’s $20.1 million average annual value at $19,881,869 per year over four years for a total of $79,527,476.
I believe a deal around $100 million over five years is a better projection for A.J. Terrell. I wouldn’t be surprised if he set the market. Atlanta made Chris Lindstrom the highest-paid guard in the league when not many believed they would. Terrell isn’t considered the best player at his position by most, but it’s clear Terry Fontenot wants to keep in-house talent in the building without haggling over trivial figures.
Falcons brass is in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine as the new league year is a couple of weeks away. In the coming months, the new regime will find a new quarterback, bring in free agent and draft classes, exercise Kyle Pitts’ fifth-year option, and negotiate A.J. Terrell’s contract extension. It’s going to be a busy few months for the Falcons.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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