Rookies are due in Flowery Branch on Friday, veterans arrive Tuesday, and the Atlanta Falcons will kick off the first official practice of the new season on Wednesday. That means the roster fight is about to get real, with nearly half of the 90 players in camp on one-year deals and a 53-man cutdown date set for Sunday, August 30th.
There’s plenty of attention on the obvious names, but this camp also has a handful of lesser-known players trying to force their way onto the team. Some are fighting for depth spots.
Others are trying to carve out a role that didn’t exist a few months ago. All of them have a path, even if it’s a narrow one.
At center, Brockermeyer looks like one of the more intriguing undrafted additions. He turned heads at the Senior Bowl, then carried that momentum into OTAs and minicamp in June.
His competition is Corey Levin, a journeyman on a one-year deal with no guaranteed money, so the backup center job is very much up for grabs. Ryan Neuzil is still the starter for now, but he’s also in the final year of his contract, which gives Brockermeyer a chance to position himself as a cheaper option in 2027.
Wide receiver is another spot where the Falcons clearly went looking for help after the draft. Anthony was one of three receivers added after the draft, or four if Cash Jones is counted after his move from running back.
Anthony’s college production at Wisconsin gives him a real case: 80 catches, 1,162 yards and five touchdowns overall, with his best season coming in 2024 when he posted 39 receptions for 672 yards. He’s in the mix with veterans Chris Blair and Dylan Drummond for what could become the fifth and even sixth receiver spot.
Jones brings a different kind of case to the table. He spent five years at Georgia, collected a pair of national championship rings, and did plenty of work as a running back.
But he also showed he could handle the ball as a receiver, finishing his final two seasons with 44 catches for 470 yards and five touchdowns. The Falcons shifted him to receiver in June, and he’ll need to win a job as a potential KhaDarel Hodge replacement.
Hodge earned Pro Bowl recognition on special teams, but Atlanta’s special teams units were not exactly a strength last season.
On the edge, Trice is trying to get his career moving after a long pause. He’s entering his third season and still hasn’t taken an NFL snap after getting hurt in his first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins in 2024.
Outside linebacker coach John Timu sounded encouraged about what he’s seen this offseason, saying, “Right now, he looks phenomenal,” But the clock is ticking. The Falcons used two first-round picks at his position last season, and Trice still has to prove he can stick.
At 274 pounds, he also brings size that stands out among Atlanta’s listed edge rushers, and he could fit as a run-stuffing option on early downs.
In the secondary, Holmes has been working with the first-team defense at nickel while Billy Bowman Jr. recovers from Achilles tendon surgery. The former Giants fourth-round pick has embraced the responsibility that comes with the role, especially the pre-snap communication.
“In this program, you’ve got to be the one who’s talking out and calling things before it happens,” Holmes told Good Morning Football this week. Doing that makes me elevate.
I got to know more of the system - why things are coming, why they’re attacking us on these down and distances. It’s a role that you’ve got to love.
And I’m definitely loving it, for sure.”
Then there’s Strand, the undrafted quarterback from Minnesota State-Moorhead who probably should have been at the Senior Bowl. Instead, he landed with Atlanta after throwing for 3,546 yards, completing 63% of his passes and piling up 43 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in college.
He has the kind of frame that jumps out at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, and unlike Tebow, he paired that size with a quick release and a strong arm in camp. The Falcons are carrying four quarterbacks, and Strand and veteran Trevor Simien are not part of the starter battle.
Still, Strand should get plenty of preseason work, and Atlanta may not want to risk losing him on waivers if he flashes.
One more name belongs in the mix if health cooperates. The source says he’s the most physically gifted linebacker on the roster, but he hasn’t been healthy in almost two years. That’s the whole story there: big talent, long wait, and a major if attached to it.
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