Sam Baker didn’t play any games for the Falcons in 2014 because of a torn patellar tendon in his knee and he’s not going to be playing for the Falcons in 2015 either.
The Falcons announced on Monday that they have released Baker, who has been a member of the team since they drafted him in the first round of the 2008 draft. Baker signed a six-year deal with the team in 2013 and was set to make $4.5 million in base salary this year.
Baker started 61 games for the Falcons over that time and was expected to be in the mix for a starting job again this season on a Falcons line that has added guard Chris Chester this offseason as they try to find a group that works better than the one they had in 2014. Baker’s experience would seem to help him in that regard, but he hasn’t been practicing this spring as a result of the knee injury and the Falcons decided they would move on with other options.
If Baker can get healthy, he could land with someone else for a look during camp while the Falcons are working out whether Tyler Polumbus, Lamar Holmes or Ryan Schraeder is their right tackle.