Atlanta Falcons Consider Trading Grady Jarrett for Salary Cap Relief

ATLANTA, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons are exploring options to relieve salary cap pressure as the NFL’s legal tampering period approaches. A key player in this discussion is defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who could help the Falcons save approximately $16.3 million in cap space if he is traded or released.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot is facing a challenging cap situation, ranked among the worst in the league heading into the 2025 NFL free agency period. The Falcons currently sit about $5.3 million over budget, making moves essential. On March 6, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton proposed a trade with the Arizona Cardinals as a potential solution.

“Since the Falcons are currently over the salary cap, they might hope that a team shows interest in defensive tackle Grady Jarrett,” Moton noted. “If they find a trade partner for him, they’d save about $16.3 million in cap space.”

Jarrett, who has spent his entire 10-year career with Atlanta, suited up for all 17 games last season, despite missing nine games in the previous season due to injury. He recorded 53 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks while also notching 12 quarterback hits.

Despite his productivity, Jarrett’s performance last season raises questions about his $20 million salary cap hit. As he approaches his 32nd birthday in April, the Falcons may conclude that releasing him would only incur a $4.125 million dead cap hit, making it a feasible option.

<p“The Cardinals could really use a big body up front to stop the run and create pass-rushing lanes for their second-level defenders,” Moton explained. Jarrett’s capability to contribute to stopping the run aligns with the Cardinals’ weak performance against rushing attacks last season.

Jarrett was a Pro Bowler in 2019 and 2020 and earned a second-team All-Pro nomination in 2019. However, his decline in sack production may push the Falcons to reassess his role on the team. Moving on from Jarrett could significantly impact the team’s cap misfortune and allow them to invest in necessary roster improvements.

In addition to the financial implications, the emotional aspect of parting with Jarrett, a respected leader in the locker room, poses a challenge for Fontenot and the Falcons’ front office. Nevertheless, the prospect of receiving a draft pick in return for the veteran could provide further incentives to make a deal.

The possibility of a trade also reflects prior interactions between the Falcons and Cardinals, including a deal that sent quarterback Desmond Ridder to Arizona for wide receiver Rondale Moore last offseason. If discussions revive, it may open an avenue for further collaboration between the teams.

The urgency to make financial adjustments is palpable, particularly with the Falcons needing to adapt their roster to foster future success. Offseason moves are pivotal as they seek to improve their overall competitiveness in the league.

“This year’s draft is deep with talented pass rushers, which we intend to explore,” Fontenot stated earlier this offseason, underscoring the potential strategy for asset acquisition moving forward. Keeping refined focus on enhancing the pass rush could augment Atlanta’s defensive capabilities.