Skip to main content
Advertising

Dontari Poe, Atlanta Falcons agree on one-year deal

Dan Quinn got his wish.

The Falcons have agreed to terms with former Chiefs nose tackle Dontari Poe on a one-year, $8 million contract, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via a source informed of the deal. The new pact can reach $10 million with incentives. The Falcons later confirmed the deal.

Poe made a positive impression on Quinn earlier this week, stopping by Atlanta's headquarters during a free agency tour that included visits with the Colts, Jaguars and Dolphins. He was ranked No. 10 overall on Around The NFL's list of the top 101 free agents.

The former Memphis star is reuniting with Falcons assistant general manager Scott Pioli, who drafted Poe at No. 11 overall -- back in 2012 when Pioli was running Kansas City's front office.

"Poe is an athletic, big guy that can push the pocket," GM Thomas Dimitroff said Thursday in a statement released by the team. "He will add to our defensive line group and will mix nicely with (Vic) Beasley, (Grady) Jarrett, (Derrick) Shelby and (Adrian) Clayborn. We are happy to be able to add him to our roster."

When healthy, Poe is among the most athletic interior defenders the league has seen. He blew up the 2012 scouting combine in the 40-yard dash, the 10-yard split and the bench press. Although he was deserving of a Pro Bowl selection as an exceptionally disruptive force in 2013 and 2014, he hasn't played at that level since undergoing back surgery in the 2015 offseason.

The prove-it deal allows Atlanta to gamble on Poe on recapturing that Pro Bowl form without committing beyond the 2017 season. If Poe does excel in Quinn's system, he will form an imposing interior duo with Super Bowl LI star Grady Jarrett.

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Related Content