Already, the Atlanta Falcons are getting ready for difficult contract decisions with Kyle Pitts and Tyler Allgeier. Both weapons are entering the final year of their respective deals. It is hard to imagine the team retaining Allgeier needing to save cap space at the position for star back Bijan Robinson. There is another looming decision as well, with Drake London appearing to become more expensive with each passing week. London is yet to play a full season with a capable quarterback and still finds ways to produce at an impressive level. Having Michael Penix Jr. starting for a full season should cement the receiver among the league's elite.
With this in mind, Atlanta couldn't have been happy with what the New York Jets just did for star receiver Garrett Wilson. The star signed a four-year extension with $90 million in guarantees worth a total of $130 million. In a capped league, this is an eye-popping number. Especially when you must weigh who to pay among London, Penix, Robinson, Pitts, and Allgeier. The Falcons' star-studded offense is very quickly going to become frustratingly expensive.
Falcons Hopes of Keeping Offense Together Takes Major Hit
Next offseason, the team will already be forced to let Allgeier walk and likely take on a dead cap hit for quarterback Kirk Cousins. This is where all the frustration leads when looking at what brought the Falcons to the situation in the first place. If the franchise had believed fully in Penix and decided against paying Cousins, penny-pinching wouldn't be a concern.
Instead, the franchise will now be forced to make painful choices, looking at letting valued draft picks walk away due to cap concerns. It is a familiar problem that has haunted the Falcons prior to Terry Fontenot taking over and cleaning house. The right path for the Falcons is paying what it takes to keep London and Robinson over the next two offseasons.
By this time, you'll have a clear answer on Penix and have Cousins' contract off the books. If the cap continues to increase, you'll have the needed room to retain the most important offensive pieces and keep your window for contention open. Still, all of this could've been avoided if not for a brutal Kirk Cousins mistake.