As the new league year quickly approaches, the Falcons have tendered four players.
Atlanta has placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent Taylor Gabriel, meaning other teams do have the option to offer him a contract, however, the Falcons ultimately have the ability to match that offer and keep the speedy wide receiver.
If another team is interested in adding Gabriel to their roster and the Falcons decide to not match their offer, that team would then send their second round pick in this year's draft for compensation for Gabriel.
Gabriel was a productive player for the Falcons in 2016, finishing the regular season with 35 catches for 579 yards and six touchdowns, he also added one touchdown on the ground, for seven total touchdowns on the season.
The Falcons have also tendered the following exclusive rights free agents: S Ricardo Allen, OL Ben Garland and CB Akeem King.
An exclusive rights free agent is a player whose contract has expired and has three or fewer tenured years in the league.
Over the past two seasons, Allen has become one of Atlanta's most vocal leaders. The former fifth-round draft pick has totaled 158 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, one forced fumble and eight passes defensed in his career as a Falcon.
Garland, one of the Falcons' most versatile players, showed he can make an impact on both offense and defense. The defensive lineman turned guard saw action in 16 games in 2016 on the offensive line. He was also used at defensive tackle sparingly, recording three tackles and one sack, including a safety in Atlanta's Divisional Round Playoff win vs. Seattle.
After playing in five games for the Falcons in 2015, King spent the 2016 season on IR.
