ESPN – The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms with former Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Dontari Poe on a one-year deal, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Thursday.
The deal is for $8 million and could increase to $10 million with incentives, the source told Schefter.
Poe, who has been selected twice for the Pro Bowl, totaled 10.5 sacks in 2013 and 2014 and has 13 in his five-season NFL career.
The Chiefs decided against using the franchise tag on Poe despite having the option to do so after signing safety Eric Berry to a long-term contract.
“Eric Berry got a pretty substantial amount,” coach Andy Reid said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “I’m not sure what’s left in the purse.”
The Chiefs would have had to offer Poe a one-year contract worth $13,387,000 if they had franchised him.
Poe, 26, joined the Chiefs as their first-round draft pick in 2012. He was not as productive last season as he had been earlier in his career, when he was a consistent force against the run and strong as an inside pass rusher.
He has been a workhorse for the Chiefs, missing only two games in his career because of injury. He also played a lot of snaps for a defensive lineman but the Chiefs usually found him too valuable in both running and passing situations to provide him much relief.
Poe is remarkably athletic for a 346-pound player. The Chiefs put his athleticism to use occasionally in offensive goal-line situations. He twice scored on running plays in his career and threw a touchdown pass in a Week 16 victory last season against the Denver Broncos.
ESPN’s Adam Teicher contributed to this report.
