The Falcons have already done some work at wide receiver, but there’s still room for one more veteran before training camp opens in the final week of July.
Atlanta brought in rookie Zachariah Branch and locked up Drake London with a four-year, $141 million extension, yet the depth chart still leaves room for another proven body. Jahan Dotson is currently lined up as the No. 2 receiver, but there’s no reason the Falcons should stop there if a useful camp competitor is available.
The free-agent market at receiver is never overflowing with difference-makers, and this year is no exception. Still, there are a handful of veterans who could make sense for Atlanta, especially if the team wants more help behind London and more competition in the room.
Keenan Allen sits near the top of that list. He’s a six-time Pro Bowler with more than 12,000 career receiving yards, and he’s been unusually steady for a bigger receiver at an age when many players at his position start to fade.
Allen has posted at least 700 receiving yards in nine straight seasons. For Atlanta, his size would add something different behind London, while his game would fit neatly alongside faster options like Dotson and Branch.
Deebo Samuel is another name worth watching. He’s 30 years old and coming off a 2025 season with the Washington Commanders that included 72 catches, 727 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games.
He may not be the same do-everything weapon he was in San Francisco, but he still profiles as a solid No. 2 target. He also brings return value, having averaged more than 30 yards per kick return over the last two seasons with the Commanders and 49ers.
Curtis Samuel doesn’t bring the same buzz, but he could still have a role. The 30-year-old had just 7 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in 2025, and his last two seasons in Buffalo fell short of expectations. Even so, he’s spent much of his career as a dependable secondary receiver, and at the very least he could push for a roster spot while adding special teams value.
Stefon Diggs would be the most obvious upgrade of the group. At 32, he’s coming off a 2025 season with 85 catches, 1,013 yards and four touchdowns.
He also carries some recent legal issues, which makes the fit more complicated, but the production is still there. Diggs gave Drake Maye a reliable No. 1 option, and that kind of presence could help Michael Penix Jr. in the same way.
DeAndre Hopkins rounds out the group. The 34-year-old had a quiet 2025 with the Baltimore Ravens, finishing with 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
That season didn’t match his reputation, but his career numbers still demand attention: 1,006 receptions, 13,295 receiving yards and 85 touchdowns. Even after a down year, he’s still a player worth a look.
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Falcons Risk Undoing A Recent WR Move With One More Signing
Atlantas offseason work at wide receiver has already given the room a different look, with Zachariah Branch joining Olamide Zaccheus and Jahan Dotson among the additions. The idea was to add more speed and versatility around the passing game, giving the Falcons a few more ways to stress defenses before the season starts.
The question now is whether one more move would actually help or just crowd the same lane. A free-agent addition in the wrong mold could overlap with what Branch was drafted to do, turning a fresh investment into a redundant one before he even gets a real chance to settle in. For a team still sorting out its receiver hierarchy, the next signing matters almost as much as the first ones did. [Read more 🡒]
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Devine Deablo suddenly matters even more with no direct replacement for Kaden Elliss after his departure to New Orleans, and Atlanta needs him to stabilize a defense that will be judged on consistency. Chris Lindstrom remains the kind of lineman who changes everything around him, while Bijan Robinson is still the offensive engine the Falcons will lean on. Even with Drake London locked in long term, the bigger question is whether enough of these foundational players can carry the team through a season defined by uncertainty at the top. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookie Receiver Is Giving Fans A Reason To Believe
Zachariah Branch has already done enough in offseason workouts and minicamp to get himself into the Falcons wide receiver rotation, which is a notable early step for a third-round pick still trying to carve out a role. The appeal is obvious: Branch brings the kind of speed and run-after-catch juice that can change how a defense has to play, and Atlanta has spent the spring finding ways to put that burst to use.
The bigger question is how quickly the rest of his game catches up. Branch entered the league with some route-running concerns, and his college usage left evaluators wanting to see more than just quick hitters and space plays. If he can keep building in a system that has shown a willingness to develop young receivers, the Falcons may have found a player whose early momentum is more than just a spring storyline. [Read more 🡒]