Paul Soliai not willing to take pay cut to stay with Falcons

Paul Soliai has been a key cog in the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive line the last two seasons, but is not willing to take a pay cut to stay in Atlanta in 2016.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole, Atlanta Falcons nose tackle Paul Soliai and his agent have reportedly been asked by the Atlanta Falcons if the nine-year NFL veteran would take a pay cut in 2016. Soliai is not likely going to agree to that notion and may test free agency if the Falcons decide to cut their nose tackle.

ESPN’s Vaughn McClure expands upon Cole’s initial report, saying that the Atlanta Falcons are willing to restructure the final three years of Soliai’s five-year deal he signed with the club back in Spring of 2014.

This restructuring would allow Soliai to make the same pay, but would better allow the Atlanta Falcons to operate under the NFL salary cap. Atlanta has less than $30 million to use on free agents and only five draft picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, so every move the front office makes needs meticulous calculation.

While Paul Soliai doesn’t put up monster number playing nose tackle for the Atlanta Falcons, he is a crucial part in the Falcons first and second down defenses, downs where the Falcons try to neutralize the opposition’s running game.

Soliai is a former Pro Bowler with the Miami Dolphins that thrives in taking on multiple blockers at the nose to open up playmaking opportunities for his fellow defensive lineman and linebackers behind him.

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Given how important the nose tackle is in head coach Dan Quinn’s 4-3 Under Base scheme, it’s unlikely that the Atlanta Falcons are going to let Paul Soliai walk without doing everything to try to make things work between the front office and the veteran defensive lineman.

Atlanta will certainly look to upgrade their defensive front seven in the 2016 NFL Draft, probably using its No. 17 overall pick to bolster that part of the defense. However, the Atlanta Falcons probably aren’t going to have an easy time finding a player in the NFL Draft that can compare to Soliai’s size right away.

With the 4-3 Under Base scheme acting in a way like a traditional 3-4 defense due to the shifted natural of the 4-3 Under, both the nose tackle and the LEO positions are crucial to the success of the defense’s front seven.

Hopefully the Atlanta Falcons can figure out a way to keep Paul Soliai in Atlanta for the next few years. When Soliai is on the field, the Atlanta Falcons are a strong run-stuffing defense.

Next: Atlanta Falcons: 4 free agent linebackers to consider

Though it is possible to replace him in the aggregate, it’s probably better to restructure Soliai’s contract so that he can finish out the final three years of his deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

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