Falcons, Jarrett strike 4-year deal for reported $68M before tag deadline

The Atlanta Falcons and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett agreed to a four-year contract to replace his franchise tag, the team confirmed Monday.

The deal is worth $68 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. It contains $42.5 million in guarantees, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Jarrett would've made $15.2 million under the tag. His new deal averages $17 million annually, which trails only Aaron Donald and Fletcher Cox among interior linemen in the league.

The agreement was reported about an hour before the deadline for franchise-tagged players to ink new pacts. It marked a surprising turn of events, as a report Monday morning said the two sides were unlikely to strike a deal.

Jarrett collected 52 tackles in 2018 and posted career highs in sacks (six) and forced fumbles (three). He's emerged as one of the game's top defensive tackles over the last couple of seasons.

In June, Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he wanted Jarrett, wide receiver Julio Jones, and linebacker Deion Jones to be "Falcons for life." So far, Jarrett is the lone member of that trio to get a new contract.

With Jarrett taken care of, Atlanta will turn its attention to Deion Jones, whose agent will meet with the team Wednesday, according to Schefter. Julio Jones, meanwhile, has already been promised a mega-extension.