The Falcons may already be staring at a tougher Brandon Dorlus negotiation than they expected, and the Green Bay Packers just made sure of it.
On Monday, Green Bay gave defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt a three-year, $57 million contract extension. That deal carries a $19 million annual price tag, and it immediately raises the bar for what Atlanta could be looking at when Dorlus’ turn comes around.
Dorlus put together a breakout season in 2025, and the Falcons are counting on that rise to keep going in 2026. He finished with 8.5 sacks, second on the team behind James Pearce Jr., and profiles as the kind of interior piece who can clean things up alongside Pearce and Jalon Walker for years.
The difference right now is visibility. Like Wyatt, Dorlus has established himself as one of the better defensive tackles in the league, but he still doesn’t have the same name recognition. That could change fast if he takes another step next season, and if it does, Atlanta may be paying for it.
There’s also the contract timeline to keep in mind. Dorlus was a Day 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, so he does not have a fifth-year option.
His rookie deal runs through the 2027 season, which means he won’t be eligible for an extension until after that year. Still, next season will be a contract year, and that makes the clock feel a lot closer.
That’s where the Falcons have to be careful. Letting players get too far down the road before locking them up has already cost them with Kyle Pitts and Drake London, and it will again when Bijan Robinson gets paid.
Atlanta does have room to maneuver financially, but the market keeps climbing, and the salary cap is expected to rise again next offseason. Wyatt’s extension only pushes Dorlus’ eventual price higher. What looked like a manageable future decision just got a lot more expensive.
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Cash Jones has been one of the more interesting camp stories because his path to a roster spot is not tied to one clean position label. The Falcons have been impressed enough to keep giving him chances, and that kind of versatility can matter when the numbers get tight later this summer. With training camp still ahead and competition only about to get more intense, Jones has already created a little real pressure in a room where every extra role can help decide who sticks. [Read more 🡒]