Atlanta Falcons: Wide Receiver Taylor Gabriel Signs Tender
By Randy Gurzi
Deep threat wide receiver Taylor Gabriel will be with the Atlanta Falcons for at least one more season as he officially signed his restricted free agent tender
Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel was tendered a second round restricted free agent contract by the Atlanta Falcons in the beginning of the free agency period. Other teams had the opportunity to give the speedy Gabriel a multi-year contract offer, but they would have had to give the Falcons a second round draft choice if they did so. Apparently no team wanted his services bad enough and he is now returning to Atlanta for at least the 2017 season as Gabriel put pen to paper on Saturday.
More from Atlanta Falcons News
- Atlanta Falcons are the perfect fit for Leonard Floyd
- 3 Largest Atlanta Falcons 2023 dead cap hits
- Atlanta Falcons trade up for a quarterback in this full mock draft
- Atlanta Falcons: 3 trade packages to land first-overall pick
- 3 Reasons the Atlanta Falcons shouldn’t fear Derek Carr and the Saints
According to RotoWire — via CBS Sports — the lack of an officially signed contract didn’t stop Gabriel from reporting to offseason workouts, which highlights the type of player Atlanta will be retaining.
"“Gabriel reported to offseason workouts this past week without a solidified contract situation as a restricted free agent, while no other team offered to match his second-round tender worth $2.746 million in Atlanta. Having officially signed his tender with the Falcons, Gabriel will likely continue seeking a long-term deal given his good standing with the organization.” — RotoWire Staff via CBS Sports"
Gabriel was originally an undrafted free agent pickup out of Abilene Christian of the Cleveland Browns where he spent the 2014 and 2015 season. There he was able to build a rapport with former Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan who held that same title in Gabriel’s rookie season for Cleveland. Shanahan has since headed to San Francisco to take the job of head coach for the 49ers, but the Falcons know they have a good thing even without the former coordinator’s input.
Must Read: 2017 Falcons Schedule: Analysis and Predictions
In 2016 Gabriel recorded 579 yards receiving on 35 receptions. That gave him an impressive 16.5 yards per catch and he also scored six touchdowns through the air for the Dirty Birds.