The Atlanta Falcons are staring at an emergency that could push them toward the trade market before preseason even gets going. The season-ending torn ACL for second-year standout Jalon Walker leaves a hole that may be too big to ignore, and it comes at a time when the roster already has questions beyond defense.
Matt Ryan is now dealing with the fallout from the Walker injury, but the issues don’t stop there. Atlanta also may need help at wide receiver and could use another playmaker in the secondary. That’s why it makes sense for the Falcons to at least make some calls, even if the names on the board are long shots.
Here are five players who could be on Atlanta’s radar before the season starts.
Kayvon Thibodeaux tops the list as the most intriguing possibility. He’s been in trade rumors for a year and a half, and after the Abdul Carter selection, he no longer has a starting role with the New York Giants. Thibodeaux could also be eyeing a payday, and his mix of rush defense and pass-rush juice would fit what the Falcons need.
Will McDonald is another edge rusher who could make sense. The New York Jets defender is a liability against the run, but his burst off the line and ability to pressure quarterbacks are real assets. With one year left on his contract, he might be the kind of player Atlanta would be willing to pay if it believes the upside is worth it.
At receiver, Kayshon Boutte is a name to watch. The New England Patriots added both AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs this offseason, which leaves Boutte looking squeezed out. If the Falcons aren’t satisfied with the progress of third-round rookie Zachariah Branch or free-agent addition Jahan Dotson, Boutte could step in and give them a shot at a stronger WR2 behind Drake London.
The quarterback situation also remains messy enough that Atlanta could look there too. Andy Dalton is buried in a crowded Philadelphia Eagles quarterback room, but his accuracy and quick grasp of an offense make him a logical target. The Falcons’ own battle has gotten so thin that they were literally pulling Cooper Rush off the street and giving Division II UDFA Jack Strand first-team reps.
Riley Moss rounds out the list, and he brings a strange profile to the table. The Denver Broncos cornerback, sitting behind Patrick Surtain II, led the NFL in both pass breakups and penalties. With first-round pick Jahdae Barron waiting, Moss could be viewed as movable on a defense that already has plenty of talent.
Given everything Atlanta has already been forced to absorb, these are the kinds of names worth monitoring. The Falcons may not land one of them, but the injury to Walker has made it clear that checking in is at least worth the effort.
In Other News...
Kirk Cousins Adds Another Awkward Twist To His Post-Falcons Story
Kirk Cousins is barely out of Atlanta and already finding a new subplot in Las Vegas. At a Raiders training camp practice, the veteran quarterback got into a minor dustup with edge rusher Maxx Crosby, a moment that drew in coaches and teammates before it was calmed down. It was the kind of brief camp flare-up that usually fades quickly, but it added another odd note to Cousins transition after his release from the Falcons.
The bigger picture for Cousins is supposed to be a quieter one, with the Raiders expecting him to help mentor rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza this season. Instead, the exchange with Crosby gave his new stop an awkward early wrinkle, and it prompted head coach Klint Kubiak to keep both players out of the next practice as discipline. For Atlanta fans still tracking Cousins post-Falcons path, it was another reminder that his next chapter is already arriving with some unexpected noise. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Stefanski Is Already Changing The Falcons Culture
The Falcons are getting a different kind of training camp under Kevin Stefanski, and the early message has been about pace, contact and preparation. The new head coach has brought in more physically demanding practices, including live tackling periods, which is a noticeable shift from what players saw under Raheem Morris and Arthur Smith.
Stefanski is also expected to play starters in select preseason games, but with a controlled approach to their reps, another sign he wants the roster sharper when the games count. It is the kind of camp adjustment that can alter the tone of a building quickly, and it will be worth watching how the team responds as the preseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons May Have A James Pearce Jr. Problem To Open The Season
The early-season picture around Atlanta got a little murkier after Adam Schefter said on his podcast that several NFL players, including Falcons outside linebacker James Pearce Jr., are among the cases under review for possible discipline before the season begins. Schefter grouped Pearce Jr. with players such as Puka Nacua, Josh Jacobs, Jonathon Cooper, Alaric Jackson and Tyreek Hill, noting that more clarity is expected by the time the regular season arrives.
For the Falcons, the concern is less about whether the situation will linger and more about how long it might last once the league makes its call. Atlanta is reportedly bracing for a significant absence for Pearce Jr., and the uncertainty around the final ruling leaves the team planning for life without a player it expected to count on right away. [Read more 🡒]