Kemal Ishmael, Atlanta Falcons Agree to 1-Year Contract

Kemal Ishmael has returned to the Atlanta Falcons after the two sides agreed to a one-year deal.

The Falcons confirmed the deal on Tuesday. According to Pro Football Talk on Monday, the latest contract is worth $2.5 million. 

The safety just completed his fourth year with the team, finishing with 52 tackles in 2016. He appeared in 13 games before going on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

Ishmael was a seventh-round pick in the 2013 draft and appeared in just four games during his rookie year. However, he developed into a key player during the 2014 season, starting 10 games while ranking second on the team with 98 tackles. His four interceptions also led the Falcons.

While he has seen a reduced role in recent years, starting just nine combined games in 2015 and 2016, he remains a versatile member of the defense who can appear at both safety positions and sometimes at linebacker.

The 24-year-old will now try to become a veteran leader on a defense that otherwise features a lot of young players. Four different rookies started at least nine games last year in this unit, including first-round pick Keanu Neal at safety.

Although the Falcons finished just 27th in points allowed in 2016, Ishmael and the rest of the young defense should improve as the squad tries to bring home its first Super Bowl title.