The Falcons’ pass rush has taken enough hits that Brandon Dorlus is no longer just a promising young defensive tackle. He’s suddenly one of the guys Atlanta has to lean on.
Dorlus, 25, already flashed in 2025 with 8.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hits in 15 games. That sack total was good for second among all NFL defensive tackles, a strong sign that he can make life miserable inside.
Now the challenge gets bigger. Jalon Walker is out for the year.
James Pearce Jr. won’t be available for the first half of the season. Arnold Ebiketie and Leonard Floyd are gone after leaving in free agency.
The Falcons have brought in Smith, Samson Ebukam, Azeez Ojulari and others, and they also recently signed veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith to a one-year deal. Even so, the biggest question hanging over this group is still the same: where is the sack production going to come from?
That’s why Dorlus matters so much. Atlanta’s 2025 defense set a franchise record with 57 sacks after managing just 31 the year before, and the pressure came from all over.
Pearce finished with 10.5, Dorlus had 8.5 and Walker added 5.5. It was the kind of spread-out production Ulbrich wanted.
But that balance is harder to find now. With so much of the edge-rushing help gone or delayed, interior pressure becomes even more valuable.
Dorlus already showed he can do damage while working in cleaner situations alongside strong pass rushers. The next step is proving he can be the kind of player offenses have to prepare for on every passing down, even when the rest of the front is being shuffled around.
He also gives Atlanta a little flexibility, since he can line up off the edge if the Falcons need him there. That versatility only adds to his importance as the team tries to patch together its front.
If Dorlus builds on last season and gets past 8.5 sacks, Atlanta has a real chance to weather the losses. If he doesn’t, the Falcons may spend the first half of the season hunting for answers up front.
Either way, his third season now carries a lot more weight than a standard breakout year. The Falcons need him to show that 2025 was just the start.
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