The Falcons may be waiting on bigger returns from their first-round talent, but the real buzz right now is coming from the back half of the draft. Atlanta has gotten quiet development, not instant fireworks, from cornerback Avieon Terrell and wide receiver/returner Zachariah Branch.
That’s not a problem at this stage. The more immediate lift has come from a pair of rookie linebackers who are flashing in a big way.
Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins have both made their presence felt this season, and Daniels in particular put his stamp on Sunday’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. He forced two clutch turnovers against what the article describes as the best team in the NFL right now, turning a strong stretch into a genuine breakout moment.
Perkins has already stood out for his work in coverage since the season opened, but Daniels' impact against San Francisco pushed him further into the spotlight. Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich didn’t hold back when talking about the rookie’s growth and overall football IQ. “If you sit down with Kendal, his acumen, his intelligence, the way he can articulate the game are all exceptional - not just for a young player, but for any player,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said."
That kind of praise matters, especially for a Day 3 pick who already looks like he’s moving toward a larger role. The Falcons have a chance to turn their linebacker group into a real strength if Daniels keeps ascending, Perkins keeps building on his strong start, and veteran Divine Deablo continues to provide what the article calls criminally underrated production. If that happens, Atlanta could be looking at one of the league’s better linebacker rooms sooner rather than later.
In Other News...
Falcons Win Put Dre Greenlaw Right Back In The NFL Spotlight
Dre Greenlaw found himself back in the NFL spotlight this week after the league handed down discipline tied to his latest on-field lapse. The 49ers linebacker had already served a one-game suspension for a headbutt involving Seattles Ernest Jones IV, and this time the league moved with a fine ahead of San Franciscos Week 8 game rather than another ban.
For Atlanta, the issue is less about the paperwork and more about what happened in the game itself. Greenlaws contact with Drake London came during the Falcons 29-20 win over San Francisco, a moment that fit into a physical afternoon and kept the focus on how quickly the league has had to revisit the linebackers conduct. The absence of a further suspension leaves the matter settled for now, even if it hardly closes the book on the attention Greenlaw continues to draw. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Have A Few Big Contract Decisions Coming Into Focus
The Falcons have spent the past stretch locking up important pieces of their core, with long-term extensions already in place for players such as Bijan Robinson and Drake London. That kind of business has helped stabilize the roster, but it also shifts attention to the next wave of decisions, especially with several players now lining up to reach free agency after the 2027 season.
Among the names coming into focus are a pair of defenders who have become central to Atlantas plans, along with a handful of other offensive and defensive players who could factor into the clubs long-range cap picture. The list gives the Falcons a clearer sense of what is ahead, even if the most pressing questions are still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookie Faces Heartbreaking Reality Before His NFL Debut
Anterio Thompsons path to the NFL has taken a devastating turn before it ever had a chance to begin. The Falcons rookie defensive tackle, a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, had been on the non-football injury list since the start of training camp, and his status had already raised questions about when he might finally get on the field.
Those questions were answered in heartbreaking fashion when Thompson shared on social media that a genetic mutation affecting his spinal cord will keep him from playing football again. For Atlanta, it is a cruel end to a player the team had just added to its future, and for Thompson it closes the door on a professional debut that never arrived. [Read more 🡒]