The Falcons may have found something special in Divine Deablo, and the rest of the league is about to catch up.
Atlanta signed the athletic linebacker to a two-year, $14 million deal in free agency last offseason, and the move already looks like a steal. Deablo broke out for the Falcons in 2025 and quickly became one of the defense’s most important pieces, even if there still feels like more waiting to be done before he reaches his ceiling.
That ceiling matters now more than ever. Ian Cunningham was comfortable letting Kaden Elliss leave in free agency this year because Deablo is the player expected to step into Elliss’ job as the new green dot on the defense. With that responsibility comes a bigger spotlight, and it also comes with the kind of opportunity that can turn a good season into a national breakout.
The timing could be perfect for him. Another offseason in Atlanta, another year of continuity, and another stretch working with Jeff Ulbrich should only sharpen what Deablo already brings to the table. The hope inside the building is that it leads to a leap in Year 2 with the Falcons, one that puts him in the conversation for Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently surveyed NFL coaches, scouts and executives on the top 10 players at every position heading into the 2026 season, and Deablo was left out of the linebacker list entirely. He didn’t even receive an honorable mention or a single vote.
That may not last long.
By the end of 2026, he should be forcing his way into those discussions. Atlanta is clearly trusting him with more, and if the coaching staff didn’t believe he could handle it, the job would have gone elsewhere.
The Falcons got a harsh reminder of Deablo’s value when he missed four weeks on injured reserve. During that stretch, the defense struggled badly, and JD Bertrand was clearly overmatched trying to fill the role. He wasn’t athletic enough or effective enough in coverage to match what Deablo had been giving them, and none of the depth linebackers were able to replace that impact.
Had Deablo played all 17 games, he likely would have topped his career-high of 106 tackles, which he set in 2023, and he would have had a real shot at his first Pro Bowl. The 2021 third-round pick from Virginia Tech has the kind of movement skills that still jump off the screen because he was a converted safety, and that raw talent is a big part of why his rise feels far from finished.
He has the traits Jeff Ulbrich wants in a linebacker, but he also has the kind of tools every defense would covet. That’s part of why the Falcons tried to find another version of him with the selection of Kendal Daniels. One converted safety apparently wasn’t enough.
Now Deablo is set to take on even more responsibility in a contract year, in the same system, with a bigger role and a bigger platform. If everything clicks the way Atlanta expects, he won’t just help the defense keep trending up. He’ll make himself a household name while doing it.
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