Dontari Poe experience a breakout season as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs last year. Many had hopes for the powerful defensive lineman due to his strength and quickness, for his positions. But Poe took a risk last offseason and didn’t sign an extension with Kansas City. He banked on himself and it appears his risk might pay off, with yet another risk.
NBC’s Pro Football Talk and Adam Schefter of ESPN had the original news of Poe’s signing.
Per source, Dontari Poe agrees to terms with Falcons.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 16, 2017
Falcons gave former Chiefs' DT Dontari Poe a one-year, $8 million deal that could increase to $10M with incentives, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2017
And the Falcons confirmed the news later in the day.
The Falcons have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Dontari Poe.
“Poe is an athletic, big guy that can push the pocket,” said General Manager Thomas Dimitroff. “He will add to our defensive line group and will mix nicely with Beasley, Jarrett, Shelby and Clayborn. We are happy to be able to add him to our roster.”
The 26-year-old Poe is a former first-round pick of the Chiefs back in 2012. He played out his four-year, $11 million plus contract after the Chiefs picked up his fifth-year option last year which cost them about $6 million for the season. Poe was testing the open market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
In 2016, Poe has appeared in all 16 games for the Chiefs and recorded 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and three pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 46 interior defensive lineman out of 126 qualifying players at his position.
