Atlanta Falcons

Kendal Daniels

LB

Daniels, a 2026 fourth-round pick from Oklahoma, appeared to have picked up a lower-leg injury during Atlanta's OTAs. However, it appears he's already moved past the issue. During his final collegiate season, the 23-year-old posted 53 total tackles, including nine tackles for loss, and three passes defensed over 13 contests. Expect Daniels to play a depth role in the Falcons' linebacker corps during his rookie campaign.

Michael Penix Jr.

QB

Penix took part in non-contact 7-on-7 drills and individual work during OTAs in mid-May, but he's not yet ready to ramp up his participation level to 11-on-11 activities. In the meantime, the full allotment of such reps will go the way of Tua Tagovailoa. Once Penix is fully recovered from the surgery he underwent in mid-November of the 2025 season to repair a partially torn left ACL, however, he and Tagovailoa will be slated to compete for No. 1 reps. Stefanski declined to offer a specific assessment of Penix's rehab progress to date, per Raimondi, though he said the 2024 first-round pick is doing "outstanding" and is "exactly where he needs to be" despite not yet being "100 percent."

Malik Verdon

S

Verdon signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent last May but didn't see any time during his rookie campaign. He began the season on the reserve/non-football injury list, and though he was designated to return in mid-November, Verdon ultimately wasn't activated. Verdon now appears to be back to health and will have a chance during the preseason to compete for a depth spot in the Falcons' secondary.

Brandon Dorlus

DT

Dorlus hurt his hamstring in Week 17 of last season and missed Atlanta's Week 18 matchup versus New Orleans. He was a key contributor for the team's defense prior to getting hurt, starting nine of the 15 games in which he played and tallying 27 tackles, including 8.5 sacks. Dorlus appears to be fully healthy again and is slated to have a big role for the Falcons again in 2026.

Cash Jones

RB

Jones is officially listed as a running back, but the undrafted rookie out of Georgia has been frequently working with the wide receivers during the offseason program. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has lauded Jones for his versatility and intelligence, and the team is cooking up ways to use him on special teams. The latter part is key, as Jones will need to excel on offense and special teams to carve out a role in the regular season.

Billy Bowman Jr.

S

Bowman is close to being at full health after suffering a torn Achilles last November. The 23-year-old isn't yet healthy enough to be a full participant in practice, however.

Keelan Marion

WR

Marion finished his collegiate career with Miami-Fla. in 2025, securing 57 of 77 targets for 746 yards and two touchdowns over 16 contests while also adding 293 yards on 12 kickoff returns. The wide receiver will likely have to impress as a special-teams option in order to crack Atlanta's 53-man roster in 2026.

Jack Velling

TE

Velling wrapped his collegiate career with Michigan State in 2025, reeling in 36 of 45 targets for 359 yards and three touchdowns. The tight end possesses a 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame, and he'll look to compete with Charlie Woerner, Joshua Simon and Brandon Frazier for a reserve role on Atlanta's 53-man roster in 2026.

Vinny Anthony II

WR

Anthony caught 31 of 54 targets for 391 yards and a touchdown while also adding 27 yards and two scores on five carries over 12 contests at Wisconsin in 2025. More notably, the wide receiver compiled 446 yards and a touchdown on 16 kickoff returns, and his best path towards making the Falcons' 53-man roster is likely as a special-teams asset.

Jack Strand

QB

Strand compiled 3,546 passing yards and 42 touchdowns through the air while completing 63 percent of his passes over 11 contests during his senior campaign with Minnesota State-Moorhead before going undrafted in April's draft. The quarterback will look to compete with Trevor Siemian for Atlanta's No. 3 QB role in 2026.

Le'Meke Brockington

WR

Brockington led Minnesota with 484 receiving yards as a senior, adding four touchdowns along the way. The 5-foot-10, 199-pound wide receiver likely needs to make an impact on special teams to earn a role on the 53-man roster.

Darren Hall

CB

Hall was drafted by the Falcons in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The San Diego State product appeared in 31 games (10 starts) over two years but was cut in training camp in August of 2023. He most recently played with the Cardinals, starting two games in 2025. Hall will add depth to the Falcons' secondary and likely needs to contribute on special teams.

Kyle Pitts Sr.

TE

Pitts thus is locked in for the coming campaign at a salary of $15.045 million. After posting 1,026 receiving yards as a rookie first-round pick in 2021, the tight end has fallen short of 1,000 yards in each of his subsequent four seasons, but he bounced back last year with an 88-928-5 line on 118 targets in 17 regular-season games. Pitts' potential signal-callers for 2026 are Michael Penix (knee) and newcomer Tua Tagovailoa, who will be competing for the starting job during the offseason program through the preseason.

Ethan Onianwa

OT

Onianwa (6-foot-6, 333 pounds) began his collegiate career in a depth role at Rice in 2021 before stepping into a starting role at right tackle from 2022-23 and at left tackle in 2024, though he bumped down to a reserve role at guard upon transferring to Ohio State in 2025 and played just 96 offensive snaps. The 22-year-old projects as a developmental project for Atlanta due to the upside his size and athleticism provide, and as a rookie he could provide Kyle Hinton and Andrew Stueber competition for a reserve gig behind starting guards Matthew Bergeron and Chris Lindstrom.

Harold Perkins Jr.

LB

Perkins didn't wait long to find the field at LSU, starting for three-plus seasons in Baton Rouge. He racked up 56 tackles and 4.0 sacks as a senior, adding three interceptions and a forced fumble to boot. He's a versatile player who started at multiple positions in college due to his tweener size, and it remains to be seen where he will settle in at the next level. He could play a hybrid safety-linebacker role, but his first order of business is proving he belongs with a good showing in camp.

Anterio Thompson

DT

Thompson spent two years at junior college before making stops at Iowa, Western Michigan and Washington over his final three seasons. He started just three games in 2025 and finished with 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. It's concerning that he wasn't a full-time starter in his fifth collegiate season, but Thompson has the raw tools (4.73 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2, 306 pounds) that make him worth a swing in the sixth round.

Zachariah Branch

WR

Branch (5-foot-9, 177 pounds) started two seasons at USC before transferring to Georgia in 2025, where he broke out with a career-best 81 catches for 811 yards and six TDs across 14 games. The 22-year-old lacks size but boasts quick twitch and tremendous speed (4.35 second 40-yard dash), meaning the most natural areas for him to contribute at the NFL-level may be the slot or in a gadget role, as well as potentially in the return game -- a skill set that nicely complements WRs Drake London, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus. The extent of Branch's role as a rookie may be notably determined by how much chemistry he's able to develop with dueling QBs Michael Penix (ACL) and Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. Branch was arrested Sunday and is facing misdemeanor charges.

Avieon Terrell

CB

The younger Terrell reunites with his brother A.J. Terrell, though the two played at Clemson at separate points. Avieon (5-foot-11, 186 pounds) is not as big or athletic as A.J., which is the main reason the latest Terrell fell to the second round. Avieon's athletic testing was possibly affected by a hamstring tweak, which would otherwise explain his 4.67-second pro-day 40. Poor pro day testing or not, Avieon should join A.J. in the starting lineup not long from now.

Maason Smith

DT

Both Smith and Orhorhoro were second-round picks in the 2024 Draft and will get a change of scenery. In two seasons with the Jaguars, Smith appeared in 24 regular-season contests and logged 32 tackles (14 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and four pass breakups.

Bijan Robinson

RB

The transaction keeps Robinson under contract through 2027 and provides Atlanta more time to negotiate a potential long-term extension, so it's little surprise to see the team pick up the 2023 first-round pick's fifth-year option. Robinson has compiled back-to-back years with over 1,400 rushing yards, and in 2025 he added a 79-829-4 receiving line (104 targets) while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. The star running back also had seven rushing scores and a career-high 5.1 YPC mark in 2025. Even given the uncertainty surrounding Atlanta's offense -- there's a QB battle between Michael Penix (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa looming this offseason, and the surprise retirement of RT Kaleb McGary (leg) has prompted the team to sign Jawaan Taylor -- Robinson is firmly in the mix for consideration as not only the top RB off the board in 2026 fantasy drafts, but as the No.1 overall selection.

Jawaan Taylor

OT

Taylor's deal reportedly carries a base value of $5 million with an additional $1 million in incentives. The veteran offensive lineman projects to step in as the Falcons' new starting RT across from LT Jake Matthews, with Kaleb McGary (leg) having announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday. Taylor has started all 111 of his career regular-season appearances.

DeAngelo Malone

LB

Malone missed the second half of last season on injured reserve with an ankle injury. In four campaigns with the Falcons, Malone has appeared in 58 regular-season contests, logging 59 tackles (32 solo), including 3.0 sacks.

Tyler Goodson

RB

Goodson will likely compete for a depth role in training camp behind Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson. Atlanta also has Nathan Carter and Carlos Washington under contract at running back. Goodson recorded 54 carries for 264 yards and one touchdown across 33 regular-season appearances for the Colts over the past three seasons while adding 19 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown on 27 targets.

Brian Robinson Jr.

RB

A third-round pick in 2022, Robinson spent the first three seasons of his career with Washington while producing between 733 and 799 rushing yards in each campaign. He was dealt to the 49ers last August and served as Christian McCaffrey's top backup in 2025, turning 100 touches into 425 yards from scrimmage and two rushing TDs. Considering he'll be working behind another workhorse back in Bijan Robinson for Atlanta, the former Commander and Niner likely will take on a similar workload in his new locale.

Trevor Siemian

QB

Siemian provides the Falcons with a No. 3 quarterback option behind Michael Penix (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa, who are expected to compete for the starting role. The last time Siemian saw regular-season action was 2023, when he logged five appearances with the Jets and threw for 724 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. He spent time on the Titans' practice squad in 2024 and 2025.