The Atlanta Falcons made one of the more surprising moves of cutdown season, releasing offensive tackle Wanya Morris after acquiring him in a trade just over a month ago.
Atlanta had sent late-round draft picks to the Kansas City Chiefs in hopes that Morris would bring depth and competition to the offensive line. Instead, the former Super Bowl champion didn’t do enough to earn a spot on Kevin Stefanski’s roster, and the Falcons moved on as they worked toward the 53-man limit.
The timing stands out because the Falcons only recently invested draft capital to bring him in. Now Morris is on the move again and looking for his third NFL opportunity before the regular season begins.
Morris, who played his college football at Oklahoma, entered the league as a third-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2023 NFL Draft. He found a starting role at left tackle during the 2024 season and opened 10 games before losing that job to D.J. Humphries.
He also carries championship experience from Kansas City’s Super Bowl-winning run, a detail that could make him appealing to teams still sorting out their offensive line depth. Since he is in the final year of his rookie contract, Morris will be subject to waivers, and it would not be a surprise if another club puts in a claim before Monday afternoon.
For Atlanta, the release suggests the team never saw enough growth in training camp or the preseason to justify keeping him. For Morris, though, the next door may open quickly, with a new landing spot potentially coming as soon as Monday before Week 1.
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Dexter arrives with the kind of pedigree that makes this more than a stopgap swap. A former second-round pick, he gives Atlanta another body inside and a player the staff can plug into the pass rush and the broader defensive rotation as the season approaches. The Falcons have been looking for ways to stabilize that group, and this trade suggests they were willing to spend some value to make the front sturdier now. [Read more 🡒]
