The Atlanta Falcons expected elite production from Devonta Freeman when they signed him to a five-year contract extension prior to the 2017 season, but they have not gotten it. Now, there’s a good chance the team could move on from the veteran running back.
The Falcons are weighing the possibility of releasing Freeman this offseason, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports. Freeman is owed $6.5 million in base salary next year as part of a contract that at one point made him the highest-paid running back in football, and Atlanta could save roughly $3 million in salary cap space by releasing him.
From NFL Now: The #Falcons may move on from RB Devonta Freeman, who they nearly dealt at the trade deadline and whose move would save them some cap space. pic.twitter.com/XW3ozJbskh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 12, 2020
Freeman missed nearly the entire 2018 season because of an injury, and he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 2019. He’ll turn 28 this offseason.
The Falcons don’t have any eye-popping running back options on their depth chart behind Freeman at the moment with Brian Hill and Kenjon Barner, but they may feel they can upgrade the position in the draft.
