Marc Raimondi, an ESPN reporter since 2019, has now covered the Atlanta Falcons, announcing the release of defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, a franchise player for the past decade. The Falcons made this surprising cost-saving move to save $12.125 million against the cap, as Jarrett’s cap number reached $20.375 million for 2025. Despite efforts to restructure his contract, the team decided to cut him, allowing for a more aggressive offseason strategy. Jarrett, a two-time Pro Bowler and community figure, recorded 36.5 career sacks and had a solid performance last season after recovering from an ACL injury.
In a somewhat unexpected decision, the Atlanta Falcons have decided to part ways with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, a key player for the franchise for a decade.
On Monday, the Falcons officially released the two-time Pro Bowler as part of a cost-cutting strategy, according to a source who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Jarrett’s cap hit for 2025 was $20,375,000, and releasing him saves the Falcons $12,125,000, as per Roster Management System. There had been discussions about possibly restructuring and extending his contract, but Atlanta opted for a release instead.
According to a league source, the Falcons tried to negotiate a new deal with Jarrett to keep him in Atlanta, but ultimately chose to proceed with the release.
Entering the offseason above the cap, the Falcons managed to rework the contract of left tackle Jake Matthews and shedding Jarrett’s salary has positioned them to be under the cap, allowing for a more aggressive approach in the coming days and beyond. They have several defensive positions that need to be addressed this offseason.
Jarrett, who turns 31, was drafted by the Falcons in 2015 and has been a pivotal figure in the team’s defense for much of the last ten years. A native of Atlanta, he has also been highly involved in community service and is a long-time favorite among fans.
Throughout his career, Jarrett has accumulated 36.5 sacks. After suffering a torn ACL in Week 8 of the 2023 season, he made a successful comeback in 2024, still proving to be a solid contributor on the Falcons’ defensive line, recording 2.5 sacks and 53 total tackles.