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Devin Hester: Atlanta Falcons’ 2016 cap casualty?

By John Buhler

Dec 20, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Devin Hester (17) runs with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Devin Hester (17) runs with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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While Devin Hester is the best kick returner in NFL history, might he become a 2016 cap casualty or receive an injury settlement from the Atlanta Falcons?

Back in spring of 2014, kick returner extraordinaire Devin Hester signed a three-year deal worth $9 million to leave his long-time employer in the Chicago Bears to suit up for the Atlanta Falcons. In his first year with the Falcons, Hester made his fourth Pro Bowl as not only an electrifying return man, but as a crucial player in former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter’s Air Coryell passing attack.

Hester seemed poised to have another strong season for the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, but complications from a toe injury initially suffered in the Falcons’ second preseason game against the New York Jets limited Devin Hester to only five regular season games played in 2015, with no contributions in new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s passing game.

Devin Hester will undergo offseason toe surgery that will sideline him for the next three to six months. On the wrong side of 30 years of age (33 years old), dealing with nagging injuries, and obviously no footprint in Shanahan’s West Coast offense, will the Atlanta Falcons end up cutting Devin Hester or reach an injury settlement before the start of the 2016 NFL season?

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Hester will make $3 million in base salary in 2015 with an $833,334 signing bonus, resulting in a $3,833,334 salary cap hit for the Atlanta Falcons should they part ways with the long-time NFL return man. Only the signing bonus part of his 2016 salary is part of the dead cap.

With injuries occurring to the Atlanta Falcons’ two best special teams players in Devin Hester and kicker Matt Bryant in 2015, special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong worked hard to ensure that the Falcons weren’t going to sputter in the crucial third phase of the game. Punter Matt Bosher had a great season, returner Eric Weems played well in Devin Hester’s absence, and kicker Shayne Graham did well in the final weeks when Bryant couldn’t play.

What will ultimately decide Devin Hester’s fate with the 2016 Atlanta Falcons is three-fold: 1.) Does Keith Armstrong think that the Atlanta Falcons can get more bang for the buck with someone else in the return game? 2.) Does Kyle Shanahan believe that Hester can factor in the receiving game in any capacity in 2016? 3.) Will the subtle changes to the front office alter Hester’s worth to the franchise in terms of player personnel?

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It’s difficult to cut an all-time great player of Devin Hester’s caliber, but the Atlanta Falcons saw first-hand what it is like to keep a player a year or two too long in former running back Steven Jackson. Devin Hester still has value for an NFL roster, but playing in only five games in 2015 doesn’t help his status with the Atlanta Falcons going forward in what is the final year of his three-year deal with Atlanta.

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