The Falcons added another body to a receiver room that still has room for competition, bringing in former New York Giants wideout Beaux Collins after waiving Layden Robinson on Monday.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the move, writing on X: “The Falcons are signing former Giants WR Beaux Collins, sources say. Collins was waived with an injury settlement late last week. Quickly finds a new home in Atlanta,” Garafolo wrote on X.
Atlanta’s other Monday roster move involved former New Orleans Saints punter Matthew Hayball. Because Hayball was part of the International Pathway Program, he did not count against the Falcons’ 90-man summer roster, while Robinson did.
Collins brings size to the mix at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds. On Atlanta’s current receiver group, only Drake London is taller at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, while Chris Blair is the next closest at 6-foot-3.
The Giants originally signed Collins as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, and he made their initial 53-man roster coming out of the preseason. He appeared in nine games, catching two passes for 25 yards.
He also played 109 snaps on special teams and finished with four tackles. Collins landed on injured reserve on November 9th last year and was waived with an injury designation on August 5th.
Before his NFL stint, Collins spent three seasons at Clemson before transferring to Notre Dame for his final college year. His strongest season came in 2023 with the Tigers, when he posted 38 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns. At Notre Dame, he added 41 catches for 490 yards and three touchdowns.
Consistency was part of his college profile. His lowest receiving yardage total was 373 in his second year at Clemson, and he scored three touchdowns in three of his four seasons.
For Atlanta, the timing makes sense. The team added to the wide receiver room this offseason with third-round pick Zachariah Branch and free-agent signings Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus, but the depth chart behind the top names is still unsettled.
Blair has been the early favorite for the fifth receiver spot, though he has just one catch in three seasons with the Falcons and has spent much of that time on the practice squad. Dylan Drummond and Cash Jones are also in the mix for roster spots.
Drummond has spent three NFL seasons and has seven catches, all of them coming last year. Jones, an undrafted rookie from Georgia, offers running back, slot receiver and special teams value.
That leaves Collins with a real chance to push for a place on the roster. Four receivers appear to be locked in, and with Atlanta likely carrying five or six wideouts, there are still spots up for grabs.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Changed The Edge Rush Market In A Big Way
The Falcons have already made one notable move on the edge, swooping in for ZaDarius Smith after the Browns had been in the mix. For Atlanta, its the kind of addition that changes the feel of a pass-rush conversation quickly, especially at a time when veteran help on the edge is still a hot topic around the league and teams are weighing how much to invest in immediate production versus longer-term planning.
Clevelands search now shifts into the next tier of options, with Joey Bosa and Haason Reddick among the names to watch as the market settles. The Browns are also being viewed through a 2026 lens, which makes every decision on the edge feel a little more complicated, and it leaves Atlantas win in this sweepstakes looking even more important as the rest of the picture continues to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Maason Smith Is Making Atlantas Most Debated Trade Look Smart
The Falcons made one of their more debated moves by sending defensive tackle Ruke Orhororo to Jacksonville for Maason Smith, and the early returns have given that swap a much different feel in Atlanta. Smith has looked like a better fit for the defensive scheme from the start, and his offseason work carried over into preseason action, where he drew positive remarks from the defensive line coach and showed up with a few notable plays in the opener.
For a team trying to sort out its front, that matters. Orhororo never really delivered the kind of impact Atlanta hoped for, while Smith has at least given the Falcons reason to believe the trade could pay off on the field rather than just on paper. There is still a long way to go before anyone declares a winner, but the direction of the deal is starting to look more favorable for Atlanta. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Face An Early Tua Test After Flat Offensive Debut
Tua Tagovailoas first outing with the Falcons did not give the offense much to build on, and the 27-7 loss to the Broncos only sharpened the focus on what comes next. Atlanta is already looking for cleaner execution under head coach Kevin Stefanski, and the early signs suggest Tagovailoa will need more time and more chances to settle in before anyone can judge the fit.
The preseason schedule does not offer much breathing room, with the Colts up next and another opportunity for Tagovailoa to show progress. Michael Penixs recovery from an ACL injury also keeps the quarterback picture in view, making these snaps matter a little more than they usually would this time of year. [Read more 🡒]