Jeff Ulbrich’s return has given the Falcons something they’ve been chasing on defense: a real identity.
That’s the clearest takeaway from Atlanta’s offseason, and it starts with the way Raheem Morris handled his first year as head coach. Bringing Ulbrich back was the right call, and the former Falcons player has already reshaped the unit with a defined vision and a sharp feel for talent.
Atlanta clearly valued him, too. Arthur Blank wanted Ulbrich to stay, and Kevin Stefanski obliged.
Even when other teams came calling about defensive coordinator openings, the Falcons kept him in place. At this point, it doesn’t feel like a stretch to say he’s not far from landing a head coaching job.
The reason that matters is simple: the Falcons’ defense has a chance to become the engine of the team.
There’s real upside here if a few things break the right way. Atlanta finished with a franchise-record 57 sacks last season, second in the NFL behind only the Denver Broncos, and that kind of pass rush changes the entire feel of a defense. Pair that pressure with a secondary that already has talent, and the ceiling starts to look serious.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport sees that path clearly, and he laid out what has to happen for Atlanta to reach it.
"The Falcons showed real improvement defensively last year, and the best-case scenario in 2026 is for that improvement to continue," Davenport wrote. "They need a pass rush that again ranks at or near the top of the league in sacks and a seamless replacement of the departed Kaden Elliss with Divine Deablo at linebacker.
They also need a third cornerback to step up alongside A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes.
If they get those things, the Falcons could have the NFC South's best defense."
The third-cornerback question may not be as big a problem as it sounds. Atlanta has enough options there to survive if the first or second choice doesn’t pan out.
The bigger concerns sit elsewhere.
James Pearce Jr. is one of them, because his status is uncertain and that alone makes the picture harder to read. Then there’s the linebacker spot, where Kaden Elliss is gone and the Falcons are leaning on Divine Deablo and newcomer Christian Harris. That’s a cheaper route, but it comes with real risk.
The defensive line has questions, too. Samson Ebukam and Azeez Ojulari need to be better than they were last season, and Maason Smith has to bring the kind of size and power that can help shore up a run defense that ranked 24th.
If those pieces come together, Atlanta has a shot to be more than just the best defense in the NFC South. It could end up among the NFL’s best.
In Other News...
One Falcons Bubble Player Is Running Out Of Camp Chances
Training camp has already put a spotlight on the Falcons tight end room, where the depth chart is far from settled and every rep matters. Joshua Simon, an undrafted free agent who came back on a reserve/futures contract after being released last preseason, is trying to turn a promising spring into something more lasting as he works under Kevin Stefanskis new coaching staff.
Simon showed a few encouraging flashes during OTAs, but the margin for error gets thinner once the pads come on and the roster battles sharpen. He is in the mix with Jack Velling and others for one of the final tight end jobs behind Kyle Pitts, Austin Hooper and Charlie Woerner, and the next stretch of camp will go a long way toward deciding whether Simon can force his way into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Fans Just Got A Brutal Reminder Of An Even Bigger Draft Bust
Aundray Bruce has long carried the label of one of the Falcons biggest draft disappointments, and for good reason. The No. 1 overall pick in 1988 never became the kind of franchise linebacker Atlanta hoped for, even though he stuck around the league for 11 seasons mostly as a backup, which at least gave the pick some measure of staying power.
But the franchises draft history has another painful chapter, and it comes with a different kind of frustration. Bruce Pickens arrived with far more hype, yet his time in Atlanta was marked by a messy start, limited impact and a career that never came close to matching the expectations that came with his draft slot, leaving Falcons fans with a reminder that the teams draft regrets run deeper than one famous miss. [Read more 🡒]
Bijan Robinson Just Put Falcons Fans On Extension Watch
The Falcons have already checked one box with Bijan Robinson, exercising his fifth-year option as a placeholder while the real business looms. It is the kind of move that buys time, but not much mystery, because Robinsons place in Atlantas offense and his strong 2025 season have only sharpened the focus on what comes next for one of the leagues most dynamic young backs.
NFL Networks Mike Garafolo expects Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs to be in line for top-of-market running back deals, with the Lions possibly needing to move first after Gibbs expanded role following the David Montgomery trade. For Atlanta, the bigger question is not whether Robinson is part of the long-term plan, but how quickly the Falcons are ready to turn that plan into a contract before the next season opens. [Read more 🡒]