Devonta Freeman was a fourth round draft pick out of Florida State, selected by the Falcons in 2014. His first year wasn’t much to talk about, but over the last two years Freeman has given people much more to talk about. He rushed for 1,061 yards and 14 total TDs in 2015 and 1,079 and 13 TDs in the Falcons’ march to Super Bowl last year. Well today Arthur Blank and the team rewarded their star back, making him the highest paid running back in the league….for now.
Per NFL.com, Freeman and the team agree to a new five-year, $41.25 million extension, one which will pays him an average of $8.25 million per season. Seeing that Le’Veon hasn’t signed his franchise tender as of yet, that puts Freeman in the top position as the NFL’s highest paid running back.
Under his rookie contract, Freeman would only have made $1.797 million in 2017. But through this new deal, Freeman keeps the same salary in 2017 but now receives a signing bonus of $15 million, and it also keeps Devonta in Atlanta through the 2022 season.
“This is where I’ve always wanted to be,” Freeman said. “I want to thank Mr. Blank, Thomas and Coach (Dan) Quinn for all of their support. I feel extremely blessed, but the work and grind are just beginning.”
Devonta Freeman on Twitter
A young boy from the bottom. You put that work in & stay humble, you’ll be rewarded. All glory to GOD Now we just gotta go get the trophy!
“We are very pleased that we were able to get this extension done,” said Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff. “Devonta embodies everything we are looking for in a Falcon, and we are proud that he’ll be able to spend his career here in Atlanta.”
Now the 5-8, 206 pound back can focus on running the Falcons back to the Super Bowl.
