Atlanta Falcons

Recent history should warn Falcons not to offer Mathis huge contract

Published Jun. 29, 2015 12:41 p.m. ET

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Sam Baker. Justin Blalock. Evan Mathis. There's a commonality among these three, and it goes farther than just their shared job title of offensive lineman.

All three looked for a bigger or better contract well past the point in their career when they should have. But that doesn't mean asking was a bad idea.

Baker and Blalock both landed lengthy contracts when they sat down to negotiate, Mathis has not ... yet. The Atlanta Falcons should use the bad-contract history lesson that both Baker and Blalock provide as a cautionary tale against signing Mathis -- at least for any significant time period.

Don't take this as an indictment of Mathis signing with Atlanta spells doom. That's not the case. In fact, the Falcons should very well be one of the six to 10 (depending on reports) teams interested in Mathis' services at guard. Mathis would instantly make Atlanta's offensive line better, and that's a position the team could use all the help and depth it can get.

But take a long look at what kind of mess signing Baker and Blalock was for the Falcons.

At age 28, Blalock signed a six-year, $38.4 million contract with Atlanta. Attached with the deal was an $11-million signing bonus on the heels of Blalock's 2010 season where he was rated as the 12th-best guard in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. He only allowed one sack in 2010, and only 10 guards had a better run blocking grade.

Over the next four seasons Blalock's grades deteriorated. He immediately dropped from an 18 grade to an 8.8 in 2011. Then fell to a 1.3 the following season. The highest he was ranked among his peers at guard was 23rd (2013), while he hit bottom at 43rd in 2012.

Blalock's almost $8-million cap figure -- in addition to his scheme mismatch once Kyle Shanahan took over as offensive coordinator -- for 2015 forced the Falcons to part ways with the guard in February, two years before the contract he signed in 2011 was set to expire.

Baker, also at age 28 (prior to the 2013 season), signed a new six-year deal with Atlanta worth $41.1 million. His deal came with a $10-million signing bonus. Baker had two fully healthy seasons (2010 and 2012) where he helped the Falcons to 13-3 campaigns. But other than those two years, he struggled to stay on the field.

In 2013, Baker played in only four games, all of which he was with the first team. The following season he managed to play five games, but never broke through as a starter. The cost of Baker's services during those two seasons was exorbitant. He was paid $3 million in 2013 and $6.05 million in 2014.

In order to avoid paying Baker a salary of $4.5 million in 2015, the Falcons cut him in June, four seasons prior to the 2018 date his contract was set to expire.

Not only did neither Blalock or Baker make it to the end of their contracts, both will still negatively affect the Falcons' salary cap moving forward. Atlanta will have to pay $9.2 million in dead money for Baker over the next two years and $4.12 million over the next year for Blalock.

Mathis' request for more money isn't coming at age 28; he's 33 (he'll turn 34 in November). Whether he wants $5 or $6 million, whether it's two years, three, maybe even four on a contract, the Falcons can't get into another situation where they may have to cut an offensive lineman down the road and pay for his services after he's long gone.

If Mathis wants to come to Atlanta and play on a one-year deal for $4 million (heck, maybe even $5 to $6 million), the Falcons should sprint to the negotiating table and sign a check. But anything Mathis wants longer than a one-year deal, should be met with skepticism and great caution. If Atlanta signs Mathis to a multi-year deal, it must be at a great discount.

With six to 10 teams interested in Mathis' services, it might be better for the Falcons to avoid a bidding war.

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