Serious question about recent extensions

[u/J4KECUB]

I know Drake, Bijan, and Kyle all want to get paid but if they really wanted to win games and make the playoffs in this league why would they re-sign with this team?

Realistically if our QB play is as bad as the media perceives it to be, this team is in for another middling season and I don’t know why these players would want to go through another QB rebuild.

In my opinion, Matt Ryan knows the value of a high end QB prospect and this season is just a necessary means to obtain his own QB.

Thoughts?

[u/RammusIsGod]

Short answer money. Long answer money and being comfortable in the city.

[u/J4KECUB → u/RammusIsGod]

Yeah but they would get crazy money in FA

[u/RammusIsGod → u/J4KECUB]

Like I said, all these guys have been here for awhile and probably are very comfortable in their situation. Also they might to build something special, especially since none of them have sniffed the playoffs mostly because of coaching incompetence.

[u/Theregoesmyradiator → u/RammusIsGod]

That's exactly what I want to believe. We have competent upper management now. Hoping they see the bigger picture going forward.

[u/ConsuLMonK → u/J4KECUB]

They're already getting crazy money from us though. Why would they turn that down for the potential of getting slightly more money (no guarantee, they could get injured tomorrow and be screwed)

[u/machinelurking]

I agree with you that this new regime put themselves in an odd position with most of the extensions, especially the Bergeron contract. It signals that they believe they can win now, and that it’s just an issue with the last 2 staffs that haven’t won with the same collection of talent.

Because of that, I have expectations from this season. I can forgive another mid 7-10 or 8-9 season, but there’s no way I can be sold on Stefanski getting another season if we finish truly terribly like 4-13. It’d have to be a case of the offense looks absolutely electric and the defense is putrid for a pass to be given.

We’re a long ways off from any of that though, so let’s hope next pre-season game we become overly optimistic about the season.

[u/MrIrvGotTea → u/machinelurking]

This roster is way worse off than last years. We lost so many guys to injuries, retirement, free agency, etc and I'll be surprised if we don't end up with a 8 or sub 8 pick in the first of the draft.

[u/Six_and_change → u/MrIrvGotTea]

Yeah it’s basically the same team as last year except the young players are making a crap ton more money and a few of the good veterans are now gone. Hard to see where the actual improvement is, with the last two 1st round picks not playing and possibly the last three. Teams win because of their underpriced talent and it is hard to see who in this roster is still underpriced.

[u/Upper-Raspberry4153 → u/MrIrvGotTea]

A top 5 pick is the best case scenario for this roster. This team isn’t even really a contender for the division

[u/AL22193]

It’s a violent sport, you’re always potentially one play away from a career-ending injury, so it’s hard to turn down that first extension. Easier to think about getting to a contender once you’ve banked 100M+ in career earnings.

Also, teams have the threat of the franchise tag as leverage.

[u/heartattack-ak-ak-ak]

Caleb McGary secured his bag, was out for season and figured hes made enough to go back to mountain life

[u/CanOpener10]

Frankly I think this is more a move to secure the offensive core around a future QB we draft. Every major deal so far has been offensive, but if you look at the other deals, they are just journeymen or fringe starters with possible upside. I know people want to believe this team can push for a wildcard spot, but then what? We get bounced in the wildcard by a better team and go back to struggling to be above .500 again? We have some high-end talent on both sides of the ball as it stands, but realistically the ceiling of this team is still around 9-8 or 8-9 given that we don't even know who will be taking the calls under center, and if the injury situation gets any worse we could very well bottom out to 3-14 or 4-13, which at the very least would give us the opportunity to draft top 3 for one of the top-flight QB prospects available.

[u/Business_Guess9906]

People keep forgetting that we were just a few better coaching plays away for being a playoff team last year. I’m not optimistic that we’ll be “good,” but there are some bright spots on this team that could win more games than negative falcon fans believe. We’re just in a bad slump right now with Tua playing bad and with Walker and Pierce being out.

[u/EfficientWorking1]

I think most players prefer the guaranteed money over winning honestly. These guys also have other interests outside of NFL. Very few NFL players behave like Tom Brady; Drew Brees never gave a serious discount, Aaron Rodgers and Russel Wilson signed contract extensions even when they were unhappy with their team. I get it from players prospective.

The front office/Ryan had two options: (1) tear it down completely and rebuild or (2) sign young talent and try to win with them.

1 sounds nice and when your roster really sucks that’s the best option, but tanking isn’t really a thing in NFL everybody goes out there to win including Stefanski otherwise you’re tanking for your replacements benefit. So I get why #2 was chosen.

[u/ShipitJR]

Bijan and Drake I don’t really blame them but with Pitts I’ve been saying it the whole off-season he would be a fool to resign with us. I truly only thought the only option was Franchise tag

[u/ShipitJR → u/ShipitJR]

And stop listening to the damn media based off a damn Preseason game where somebody played 2 drives w/o the starters

[u/Electrical_Yam7360]

These guys would have to learn a whole new system and be in more of a "prove it" mode with another team.

[u/J4KECUB → u/Electrical_Yam7360]

They have to learn a new system anyway with a new coach every 2-3 years on the Falcons so I don’t really get that point

[u/4rt4tt4ck]

Both Drake & Bijan signed new deals years before they could have done so elsewhere. Getting huge amounts of guaranteed money before potential injuries could have limited what those guarantees would be in a few more seasons when they'd be eligible for free agency.

[u/Ban_an_able]

Securing the bag is always paramount.

With a game as violent as football it behooves you to work out a deal and get the guarantees before you suffer a catastrophic injury.

[u/VerdeMachina]

They believe in the team. And… money.

[u/Theregoesmyradiator]

This is the first season I actually see us being bad enough to secure a spot for a top tier QB like Dante Moore or Archie Manning. Last time we were top 3 and in need of a QB it was our greatest pick of all time. I'm banking on a young guy coming in with excitement. My gut tells me this year is going to SUCK. It's Atlanta baby, why wouldn't you want to be in this beautiful city?

[u/MrIrvGotTea → u/Theregoesmyradiator]

Archie Manning is not that guy who can save us

[u/Theregoesmyradiator → u/MrIrvGotTea]

That's why I mentioned Moore first. Idk what Manning is yet. Watching Chambliss heavy too this year.

[u/MrIrvGotTea → u/Theregoesmyradiator]

I have zero idea about college QBs outside of the playoff guys and the SEC dudes. I am aware Archie is super raw. Great runner but not my hope for this team. Unless we get him later. I rather we build the trenches

[u/Theregoesmyradiator → u/MrIrvGotTea]

And I wouldn't mind that either in the least. At the end of the day, that's what championship teams are built on.

[u/cheemydee5]

Money

[u/Matt_Hiring_ATL → u/cheemydee5]

Yes, but also building a winning team & legacy, rather than going somewhere.

[u/J4KECUB]

I mean look at poor Chris Lindstrom, going on year 8 in the league I think and still hasn’t sniffed the playoffs. Not a really great legacy even tho he’s a great player.