Roughly half of the Atlanta Falcons headed to training camp next week are either on one-year deals or in the final season of a multi-year contract, and that alone makes the race for the 53-man roster feel a little tighter.
When jobs are this unsettled, the easiest way to read the room is to look at how the Falcons built their initial 53 last season and then ask where the numbers might shift. The exact names change, but the roster math usually doesn’t drift all that far from year to year, even with a new coaching staff in place.
At quarterback, the Falcons carried only Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins last season. If they decide they need a third veteran, Trevor Simien would be the name in that mix. But an undrafted free agent impressed in June, and if he carries that momentum into the preseason, Atlanta may have to keep him on the 53 rather than risk losing him to the practice squad.
The backfield has its own fight for the final spot. Tyler Goodson and Nathan Carter are battling for the third running back job, and Carter won it last year after a strong preseason. Neither player is tied to guaranteed money, so this one should come down to performance alone.
Wide receiver is where the room looks the most different. The Falcons kept seven receivers last year, Jamal Agnew included as a return man, and only one of those players is still around: Drake London.
That makes this one of the most disappointing position groups on the 2025 roster. Atlanta could open up at least one more spot here, but the fifth and sixth receivers will need to earn their keep on special teams.
Cash Jones and Vinny Anthony, both undrafted free agents, are candidates to do exactly that. Keeping five receivers and leaning on the practice squad on game days is also on the table if the Falcons want to use that roster space elsewhere.
Tight end looks more settled. These three are all but locks to make the 53.
Woerner does carry a Falcons-friendly salary cap number that makes him vulnerable, but Atlanta is well under the cap for 2026. Josh Simon could be a practice squad elevation option, and the Falcons may also look to add another tight end after other teams trim their rosters.
Up front, the offensive line projection points to nine. Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Ryan Neuzil, Chris Lindstrom, Jawaan Taylor, Wanya Morris, Michael Jerrell, James Hinton and James Brockermeyer fit that number. Brockermeyer is in a battle with Corey Levin for the backup center job, while Atlanta may believe it can sneak seventh-round pick Ethan Onianwa and 2025 seventh-round pick Jack Nelson onto the practice squad.
The defensive line should be deeper than it was a year ago. The Falcons went light there last season, and it hurt them.
They’re not expected to repeat that mistake. Brandon Dorlus, Zach Harrison, Da’Shawn Hand, LaCale London, Maason Smith, Chris Williams and Cameron Thomas make up the group, with sixth-round pick Anterio Thompson a candidate to begin the season on the injured list and avoid counting against the initial 53.
Edge rusher has a different kind of uncertainty. Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., Samson Ebukam and Azeez Ojulari are in, while DeAngelo Malone currently holds the final spot because of what he brings on special teams.
The Falcons are still hoping Bralen Trice can get healthy in 2026 after missing the first two seasons of his career, and his size would give the room something it doesn’t have now. Atlanta could also create room by taking one of the receiver spots and using it on Trice instead.
Linebacker has become one of the more intriguing groups on the roster. Divine Deablo, Christian Harris and Harold Perkins Jr. look like safe bets, and Kendal Daniels is in the mix too, though he missed OTAs and minicamp and will need to prove he’s healthy in camp.
Channing Tindall was signed in free agency, but his deal has no guaranteed money. JD Bertrand was the No. 3 linebacker last year, but his playing time shrank once his limitations showed up.
Then there’s Troy Andersen. If he’s healthy, he remains the most physically gifted player in the group, maybe on the entire defense.
Safety got more interesting after the offseason trade for Sydney Brown. Jessie Bates III, Xavier Watts, Brown and DeMarcco Hellams give the Falcons four safeties, and Brown’s nickel/safety versatility helps Atlanta keep 10 defensive backs, just like last season.
Cornerback could also be shaped by that flexibility. Billy Bowman Jr. is a strong candidate to start the year on injured list, and moving Brown to nickel would keep the roster math aligned with last season.
A.J. Terrell, Avieon Terrell and Mike Hughes are the top three corners, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich may use one of them at nickel so Atlanta can keep its three best defensive backs on the field until Bowman returns.
At kicker, there’s no suspense. Folk has been the most accurate kicker in the league over the last three seasons, and the Falcons should get a major upgrade at a position where they badly need one.
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Falcons May Finally Be Out Of Patience With Former Draft Pick
DeAngelo Malones place in Atlanta has become one of the more interesting camp storylines for a defense trying to sort out its edge-rushing depth. The former third-round pick is back on a one-year deal after spending the last three seasons in the mix, and his rsum with the Falcons is solid enough to keep him in the conversation, even if it has not yet translated into a regular starting role.
Malone has appeared in 58 games for Atlanta without making a start, and his production has been modest, with three sacks and 60 tackles. Now he is facing a tougher path than ever, with younger pass-rushers pushing for snaps and the roster picture getting crowded enough that his margin for error feels thin heading into camp. [Read more 🡒]
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Bowmans recovery now has the next big checkpoints in sight, with training camp looming as the clearest test of where he stands. The Falcons can afford to be patient with him, but any sign that he is moving closer to football activity is worth noting, especially for a player whose availability could become a real factor once the season gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Arthur Blank Just Entered His Biggest Falcons Summer Yet
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Blank also handed Matt Ryan a new president of football role, adding a familiar face to help guide the next era, and the message was clear that this reboot was about more than just names on a chart. For Blank, the pressure is now baked into every step of the process, because the new regime has to prove his drastic decisions were the right ones and finally push Atlanta toward the kind of stability and performance it has been chasing for years. [Read more 🡒]