The Atlanta Falcons have ensured that wide receiver Roddy White will spend a few more years in red and black, signing the star to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2018 season, the team announced on Thursday.
Roddy White, Falcons agree to extension
Atlanta has locked up perhaps the best receiver in team history through 2018.
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With his new 4-year, $30M extension, #Falcons WR Roddy White will earn just under $11M this season, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 24, 2014 Before signing the extension, White was set to play on the last year of a six-year, $42.7 million contract which would have paid $6.3 million this year. Considering he is 32 years old and coming off a season that was his worst since 2006 (711 yards and only three touchdowns), it will be interesting to see how much cash general manager Thomas Dimitroff floated his way.
Before the extension, White ranked ninth in terms of average base salary for a receiver, per Spotrac. The key to this deal is the guaranteed money, with the total he receives and the years it is paid out being the primary factors. The extension is four years, but should the guarantees run out halfway through the term White could be cut without penalty in the event he declines sharply.
Prior to White’s extension, our Falcons blog, The Falcoholic, broke down the team’s salary cap position, noting $9.1 million in cap space this year and $25 million in projected cap space for next year:
The Falcons are in good financial shape, having a franchise QB locked up while also making several signings during this off-season. Even after free agency and signing our rookie class, the Falcons have plenty of space in 2014 that -- if carried over into 2015 -- could make the Falcons a factor in free agency. Like any team, the Falcons need to work on getting some key players wrapped-up for the long-term such as Julio Jones and Roddy White. While the cap space is pretty healthy, keeping it flexible will be key as Julio is likely looking for a big deal and Roddy White won't come cheap either. However, if managed properly, the Falcons should be financially sound for the next several years.
White is the all-time leading receiver in Falcons history with 9.436 yards receiving and 55 touchdowns on 685 receptions. From 2007-2012, White amassed over 1,150 yards in each of those campaigns while Atlanta made it as far as the NFC Championship game.
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