Atlanta’s most interesting camp fight might not be the one grabbing the biggest headlines.
Yes, the quarterback battle has taken center stage, and the Falcons have also had competition at nickel cornerback, right tackle, and inside linebacker. But the running back room is where one of the sneakiest battles is unfolding, and it starts with the spot behind Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr.
Robinson, who just signed a three-year, $66.75 million contract extension to stay in Atlanta, sits atop the depth chart. Brian Robinson Jr. is next after the team brought him in to replace Tyler Allgeier, who is seemingly thriving in his new role in Arizona. After that, though, things get messy in a hurry.
The RB3 job is up for grabs between Nate Carter, Tyler Goodson, and undrafted rookie Cash Jones.
Carter entered last season as the favorite and ended up winning the role. The Falcons signed the 24-year-old as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State after the 2025 NFL Draft, and he was a training camp darling last summer.
He backed that up in the preseason with solid play and a burst that clearly caught attention. He also brings special teams value, which matters here because his competition can say the same.
Goodson is the fresh face in the mix. Atlanta signed him to a one-year deal in free agency after he spent the last three seasons backing up Jonathan Taylor in Indianapolis, and he reportedly stood out during mandatory minicamp earlier this offseason.
Then there’s Jones, the wild card. The Falcons were working to convert the undrafted Georgia product into a slot receiver during OTAs, but once camp opened and Brian Robinson Jr. was banged up, Jones got more work at running back. He’s more of a receiving back than a true runner, with more carries than rush attempts in college, and he looks like the kind of developmental project this new regime could be tempted to keep around.
Even so, the sense is that Jones may be more of a practice squad stash than a real threat to take the job. That leaves Carter and Goodson as the likeliest finalists for the role.
However it plays out, the Falcons’ RB3 battle is shaping up as one of camp’s quieter but more intriguing competitions.
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