The Falcons already found one late-blooming defensive tackle in LaCale London, and now they’re hoping Chris Williams can follow the same path.
That’s the kind of bet Atlanta has to make in a defensive tackle room that needs help. With Zach Harrison injured and Ruke Orhorhoro described as a complete liability, the Falcons needed someone beyond Brandon Dorlus or David Onyemata to give them real production inside. London answered that call after gradually earning a bigger role late in the year, and the payoff was real: after appearing in 13 games and making five starts last season, he posted a career-high five sacks in 2025 and earned a one-year extension.
Now the focus shifts to Williams, who signed a one-year, $2 million deal in March. Ian Cunningham clearly saw enough to bring him over from Chicago, just as he did with London, and the hope is that this contract ends up looking like a smart piece of business by the time the season plays out.
Williams’ route to Atlanta has been anything but direct. The 28-year-old went undrafted in 2020, landed with the Indianapolis Colts, and spent his first three seasons there. He got into 13 games as a Colt, but most of that stretch was spent bouncing between the active roster and the practice squad.
That kind of shuffle has followed him around. In 2023, Williams spent time on the practice squads of the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns before being traded to Chicago for a sixth-round pick in the weeks before the 2024 season.
He then spent the last two years with the Bears, making 31 appearances and recording four sacks. Those numbers don’t scream breakout, but Atlanta doesn’t need him to be a star. The Falcons are looking for depth, and they’re looking for someone who can give them London-style value without needing a massive role.
That’s why Williams is worth watching in training camp. The Falcons’ defensive tackle group is thin enough that a strong summer could put him in line for an early role in 2026. At 6-foot-2 and 298 pounds, he has the build to fit into that rotation if the performance follows.
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Falcons May Already Have Their Answer To The QB Problem
The Falcons quarterback situation is still unsettled, with Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa competing for the starting job as Matt Ryan settles into his new role as president of football and works alongside general manager Ian Cunningham and coach Kevin Stefanski to push the franchise back toward the playoffs. Even with that uncertainty hanging over the offense, there is a growing sense that Atlanta may already know where its most dependable production is going to come from.
Bijan Robinson is expected to sit at the center of Stefanskis run-heavy approach, and that alone gives the Falcons a clear offensive anchor while the passing game sorts itself out. The bigger question is how far that role can take him, because the projection around Robinson is not just about volume or efficiency, but about whether Atlantas offense can build enough around him to turn a strong season into something much bigger. [Read more 🡒]
One Falcons UDFA Is Suddenly Creating Real Roster Pressure
With 91 players on the roster and rookies set to arrive for training camp on July 24, the Falcons are still in the part of the summer where every practice rep can matter. Among the 13 undrafted free agents in the mix, one name has already started to stand out in minicamp, and it is not just because of what he does with the ball in his hands. He has also brought special teams experience, and Atlanta has even taken a look at him at wide receiver, a sign the team is willing to keep finding ways to use him.
Cash Jones has been one of the more interesting camp stories because his path to a roster spot is not tied to one clean position label. The Falcons have been impressed enough to keep giving him chances, and that kind of versatility can matter when the numbers get tight later this summer. With training camp still ahead and competition only about to get more intense, Jones has already created a little real pressure in a room where every extra role can help decide who sticks. [Read more 🡒]