Atlanta Falcons Offseason Breakdown: Cap Space, Key Needs, and the Stefanski Factor
The Atlanta Falcons head into the offseason with $24.6 million in projected cap space and five draft picks to work with. That’s not a war chest, but it’s enough to make meaningful moves-especially for a team that’s been knocking on the door of relevance for the past few years without fully breaking through.
With a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski and a front office reshuffle, the Falcons are entering a pivotal offseason. The roster has talent, but there are clear holes to fill and big decisions to make. Let’s break down what’s ahead for Atlanta, starting with the most pressing needs.
Top Offseason Needs for the Falcons
1. Edge Rusher
Atlanta set a franchise record with 57 sacks last season, which is impressive on paper-but context matters. The team’s top pass rusher, James Pearce Jr., is facing serious legal issues stemming from domestic violence charges.
The NFL won’t begin its investigation until the legal process plays out, but the Falcons have to prepare for life without him, at least in the short term.
Pearce led the team with 10.5 sacks, and fellow first-rounder Jalon Walker chipped in a solid 5.5 in his rookie campaign. But with veterans Leonard Floyd and Arnold Ebiketie headed to free agency, the depth chart is looking thin.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will need reinforcements on the edge-whether through the draft, free agency, or both. Atlanta can’t afford to let one of last season’s few defensive bright spots slip away due to attrition.
2. Wide Receiver
The Falcons’ passing game doesn’t lack talent at the top, but the depth chart got exposed in 2025. Darnell Mooney’s season was derailed before it began-he broke his collarbone in training camp and never looked like himself after returning.
That’s a tough blow for a player who topped 1,000 yards in his first year with the team. Now, Atlanta has a financial decision to make: cutting Mooney would save $12 million in cash and $7.4 million against the cap.
When Drake London went down with a knee injury late in the year, the receiving corps thinned out fast. David Sills, a journeyman whose claim to fame is a scholarship offer from Lane Kiffin in seventh grade, ended up leading the team in receiving down the stretch. That’s not exactly the plan when you’re trying to build a playoff-caliber offense.
Even with Kyle Pitts (a likely franchise tag candidate) and Bijan Robinson providing versatile options in the passing game, the Falcons need another reliable wideout-someone who can step in if London misses time and stretch defenses when he’s on the field.
3. Offensive Tackle
Cornerback could use attention-opponents will always test the guy opposite A.J. Terrell-but the offensive line is where Atlanta needs to stay proactive.
Both starting tackles are on the wrong side of 30: Jake Matthews is 34, and Kaleb McGary is 31. McGary missed all of 2025 with a lower leg injury, and the team has been tight-lipped about his recovery.
The assumption is McGary will return to form, but that’s far from guaranteed. Elijah Wilkinson filled in last year and is set to hit free agency.
He’s a candidate to return on a team-friendly deal, but Atlanta needs to start grooming long-term replacements. Waiting until Matthews or McGary retires is a recipe for scrambling.
The Falcons have built their identity around a strong offensive line-it’s time to invest in its future.
Notable Free Agents
Atlanta has a long list of players hitting the market, including:
- TE Kyle Pitts - A prime candidate for the franchise tag.
- LB Kaden Elliss
- RB Tyler Allgeier
- OL Elijah Wilkinson
- CB Dee Alford
- DT David Onyemata
- OLB Arnold Ebiketie
- OLB Leonard Floyd
- P Bradley Pinion
- K Zane Gonzalez
- LB Troy Andersen
- S Ronnie Harrison
- DT LaCale London (RFA)
- DT Kentavius Street
- WR David Sills (RFA)
- WR Malik Heath (RFA)
That’s a lot of decisions to make, especially with limited cap space. The Falcons will need to prioritize who fits into the long-term vision and who can be replaced with younger, cheaper talent.
The Stefanski Question: Can He Be the Catalyst?
Let’s not sugarcoat it-Atlanta has been stuck in neutral for a while now. Eight straight losing seasons, three head coaches, five different Week 1 starting quarterbacks.
And yet, they’ve rarely bottomed out. Only once in that stretch have they finished with fewer than seven wins.
That’s not success, but it’s not dysfunction either. It’s purgatory.
Enter Kevin Stefanski.
The two-time Coach of the Year arrives after his run with the Browns came to an end. He’s known for maximizing what he’s given, and that trait might be exactly what Atlanta needs.
Owner Arthur Blank made a bold move, cleaning house even after a strong finish to last season. The roster isn’t drastically changing, so the hope is that Stefanski’s leadership and scheme can unlock what’s already here.
Of course, the quarterback situation is still murky. Michael Penix Jr. is recovering from a torn ACL, and it’s unclear whether he’s the long-term answer.
Stefanski’s Cleveland tenure was often hamstrung by instability at the position, and he’ll be hoping for more clarity in Atlanta. If Penix doesn’t pan out, Stefanski will likely get the chance to handpick his guy.
What’s clear is this: the Falcons believe they’re close. Stefanski was brought in to push them over the top.
Whether that means contending in the NFC South or making a deeper playoff run, the expectations are rising. And with a talented core already in place, the time to deliver is now.
Bottom Line
The Falcons aren’t starting from scratch-but they’re not set, either. They’ve got cap flexibility, a solid draft position, and a new voice at the top in Stefanski. If they can shore up the edge rush, add depth at receiver, and future-proof the offensive line, this could finally be the year Atlanta breaks out of the middle tier and becomes a real contender in the NFC.
But as always in the NFL, it starts with the quarterback-and ends with how well the coach can bring it all together.