AJC: Falcons have ramped up talks with William Moore, Sam Baker

[Ramon Nivar]

The Falcons have "ramped up" negotiations with free agents William Moore and Sam Baker.

Moore is the Falcons' top priority, but it remains unclear where Baker ranks. WIth the tackle market flooded with talent, it could be in the Falcons' best interest to let Baker test free agency and be greeted by soft interest.

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They’ve since ramped up negotiations with safety William Moore and left tackle Sam Baker, while signing backup running back Antone Smith to a modest two-year, $1.425 million contract extension.

Smith received a $65,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $630,000 and $730,000. The Falcons would like to keep Moore and Baker from hitting the open market.

As of Thursday, the Falcons had $20.5 million under their adjusted cap of $124.3 million.

Gonzalez’s cap number last season was $5.9 million.

So if they give him a modest raise to come back and push his number up to $6.5 million, the Falcons would have $14 million left in salary-cap space.

Moore, who went to the Pro Bowl last season as an alternate, could demand a deal near the top of the safety market. The top safety salary belongs to San Diego’s Eric Weddle, whose deal last July averaged $8 million.

If the Falcons gave Moore a deal that averaged $8 million, they could lower his cap number by spreading out the signing bonus over the term of the contract.

Weddle received a $13 million signing bonus and had a cap number of $3.9 million last season.

If Moore’s cap number is $4 million, the Falcons would have $10 million left.

One of Baker’s comparables is New York Giants left tackle Will Beatty, who recently signed a five-year deal worth $37.5 million. His cap number for next season is $3.6 million.

So the Falcons would have roughly $6.4 million left in cap space for cornerback Brent Grimes, Ryan, the rookies and any veteran pickups.

That’s a tight spot, but manageable under the salary-cap rules.

[Bravo95]

We'll see. Guess I'd understand if they let Baker test the market first.

[Ramon Nivar]

The National Football Post suggests teams around the league believe free agent Sam Baker is more of a guard than tackle.

One personnel man thinks Baker's best fit is in a zone-blocking scheme due to his limited length, which "affects him as a pass protector" and he "does not anchor well." Baker, 28 in May, had easily his best season in 2012, but he has notoriously struggled since being a first-round pick in 2008. He also has chronic back problems. We're not expecting a hot market for his services.

rotoworld

Sounds more and more like he'll be back, and cheap.