The Atlanta Falcons have contract issues on their hands and with free agency and the NFL Draft officially over they must become priorities. While general manage Thomas Dimitroff has made it clear that contract extensions are next on the list for the Falcons, no one has been signed to new deals. However, that did not stop players from reporting to the first day of OTAs and both Vic Beasley and Julio Jones took the field.
It likely came as a surprise to Falcons' fans when it was first reported that Beasley might not be attending OTAs. The first-round draft pick is expected to be an immediate starter in 2015 and a crucial piece to the Dan Quinn defense. The issue is he does not have a contract yet. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the lack of a deal is not stopping Beasley from reporting to practice as the pass rusher was one of the first on the field and ready to play.
Beasley's contract is not an issue at the moment considering he is not holding out, but the longer it lingers the bigger of a problem it becomes. Early reports say Beasley looked impressive in his first day with the Falcons as he paired well alongside Adrian Clayborn and Kroy Biermann. The rookie is needed immediately, contract or no contract, and Quinn is impressed with what he sees so far.
"So the speed and the effort and the way that we come off the ball, that's some of the things that you try and implement on third down," Quinn said, via ESPN.com. "Some of it was pressure, some of it was rush so for the first day, I have to take a look back at the film. I thought inside, Clayborn was one that jumped out. I saw Beasley jumped out for one. Biermann, I thought, had a good one. Those three jumped out in that period (where) we had about eight plays of third down competition at the end where you win it or lose it based on that down and distance.''
Jones also reported to OTAs on Day 1 despite not getting his contract extension. Jones is entering the final year of his rookie contract and Dimitroff has made it clear he is hopeful to get the wide receiver signed by the first game. The issue is the market which has yet to be set for top receivers. Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas and AJ Green are all waiting on new contracts which is holding up negotiations.
According to Vaughn McClure of ESPN, Jones is not planning any type of holdout with the team. Negotiations are ongoing with the receiver who is expected to become one of the highest-paid players at the position, but Jones is merely focused on football and content with letting the talks play themselves out.
According to the AJC, the first day of practice for Atlanta held a lot of excitement, but also a lot of injuries. Jake Matthews, Jalen Collins, William Moore, Brook Reeds and a good portion of the offensive line were held out while the continue to rehab. All of those players are needed immediately as the Falcons are hopeful those injuries do not linger too long.