A year ago, Nathan Carter looked like the kind of under-the-radar pickup teams love to brag about later. Atlanta signed the undrafted running back after the 2025 NFL Draft, and he turned a strong preseason into a roster spot, beating out Carlos Washington Jr. and Jashaun Corbin to open the year as the Falcons’ RB3 behind Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
That path was never exactly clean. Carter’s college production at Michigan State was shaped by a rough situation, even though he flashed real ability.
As a redshirt sophomore, he ran for 798 yards and four touchdowns and finished with a little more than 900 yards from scrimmage. He went back for another season, but his numbers were cut in half in 2024 while Michigan State struggled through one of the worst offenses in college football.
Now the feel-good angle has a much tougher test. With a new regime in place, the momentum Carter built with Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson no longer carries the same weight. He’s back at square one, and there’s a real chance he doesn’t make it to 2026 in Atlanta.
The biggest reason is simple: the Falcons added competition. Tyler Goodson signed a one-year deal in free agency and immediately became the main threat to Carter’s grip on the RB3 job behind Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. Early signs have favored Goodson.
He stood out at Falcons minicamp and brings the more proven résumé. In three seasons as a depth back with the Indianapolis Colts, Goodson logged 54 carries, with 32 of those coming in 2024 when Jonathan Taylor was hurt. He’s also been efficient, averaging nearly five yards per carry in his career, and he can contribute on special teams.
For Carter, the next stretch matters. Training camp and the preseason will give him a chance to close the gap, and he’s already shown he can make the most of extra reps.
If he does it again, he can keep himself in the mix. If not, the roster spot disappears.
The Falcons may not lean on their third running back very often with the B. Robinsons ahead of him, but that doesn’t make the job any less real.
In the NFL, every spot has to be earned, and every spot can be taken away just as fast. Carter’s story was a good one.
It just may not have much room left.
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
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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 🡒]