Brandon Dorlus is starting to look like one of the cleaner breakout bets on the Atlanta Falcons’ defense heading into 2026.
That’s the view ESPN’s Ben Solak took when he singled out the second-year defensive tackle as Atlanta’s breakout candidate for next season. It comes after a 2025 campaign in which the Falcons’ defense made a real leap under coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, especially up front.
Atlanta’s pass rush went from one of the league’s weakest to one of its most productive. A year after finishing 31st in the NFL in total sacks, the Falcons surged all the way to second in 2025. They finished with a franchise-record 57 sacks, behind only the Philadelphia Eagles.
What made that jump stand out was how much of it came from young players. Rookie edge rushers James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker combined for 16 sacks, while Dorlus turned in a career-high 8.5 sacks in his second season. The Falcons still need more help on the interior of the defensive line, but Dorlus has become a clear bright spot.
Solak pointed to the way Dorlus finished plays and moved through traffic when he explained why the former fourth-round pick earned the nod.
“A lot of Dorlus' sack production was in cleanup after edge rushers forced the quarterback to climb, but he still used his length and flexibility well to shed blocks late and make tackles away from his frame,” wrote Solak. “He is especially effective as a looper or crasher in blitz packages, with a great knack for becoming skinny as he works through the line of scrimmage.”
The Falcons had a need for someone to emerge inside after releasing former franchise cornerstone Grady Jarrett, and Dorlus answered that call. Solak also noted that there’s still room for growth, but the 2025 season gave Atlanta a much clearer picture of what it has in him.
“Dorlus is still more tweener than he is versatile, but 2025 was a clear realization of the vision we never got to see in 2024,” added Solak. “Continuity in coordinator Jeff Ulbrich's defense will be big for his continued growth.”
Atlanta also added more help by trading for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Maason Smith, who can work at nose tackle. Veteran LaCale London is also expected to take on a larger role this season.
And with a secondary that is borderline elite, the Falcons have a defense that looks built to keep climbing if the front seven keeps pushing forward.
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