Ricardo Allen, Falcons Agree to Reported 3-Year, $19.5m Contract Extension

The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday that safety Ricardo Allen has agreed to a three-year contract extension. The deal is reportedly worth $19.5 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Allen's signing is the latest deal in what has been a busy summer for the Falcons:

Allen, 26, recorded 54 tackles and an interception for the Falcons last season. Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 72.1 for his efforts, 35th amongst safeties.

As ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure wrote, "Allen had signed a one-year tender as a restricted free agent worth $2.914 million. Important part of the unit as the last line of defense and 'eraser' in the defensive backfield."

Allen is indeed a key factor in the team's strong secondary, which also includes cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford and strong safety Keanu Neal. While Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and the team's offense often dominate discussion, the defense was very good for Atlanta last season, finishing ninth in yards allowed (318.4 per game) and eighth in points (19.7 per contest).

They also finished 12th in pass yards per game (214.3).

Under head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel, the Falcons transitioned to longer, more athletic and physical personnel on the defensive side of the ball. Allen, who started with the team on the practice squad, has become one of the key figures of that philosophical shift. 

"He's part of our family and represents the best of everything we're about on the field, off the field," Falcons owner Arthur Blank told McClure. "He's another one of these guys that will be a Falcon for life."