Anterio Thompson’s stalled summer has opened the door for another rookie defensive tackle in Atlanta.
The Falcons’ sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft has barely been on the field this offseason. Thompson missed rookie minicamp and OTAs, and that stretch is going to get even longer. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported just days before training camp that Atlanta placed Thompson on the non-football injury list, meaning he’ll stay sidelined and keep missing the kind of reps that help a young lineman catch up to NFL speed.
That leaves the Falcons waiting on a player they drafted 198th overall, a raw prospect with athletic upside but not much time to show it yet. For Nate Ollie and Jeff Ulbrich, the delay also creates a chance to get a longer look at another rookie defensive tackle who arrived through a very different path.
Carlos Allen Jr. joined Atlanta immediately after the draft as an undrafted free agent, and he comes in with a far more established college résumé than Thompson. In 2025, Allen Jr. piled up 80 tackles, a huge number for an interior defensive lineman. He didn’t just lead Houston in tackles; he also led all FBS interior defensive linemen, which is not the kind of production that usually lands on the UDFA market.
The 24-year-old added more to his case than raw tackle totals. He was one of four Big 12 linemen to play more than 600 snaps without committing a penalty last season, and that helped him earn Second Team All-Big honors. He also finished with 34 stops, the most among Big 12 interior linemen and second among all defensive linemen overall.
That profile matters in Atlanta because the Falcons need bodies and competition on the interior. Allen Jr. didn’t exactly light up OTAs, but Thompson’s absence gives the staff more room to evaluate him. The chance is there, and Atlanta’s coaches will get a better read once camp gets rolling.
At 6-foot-1 and 295 pounds, Allen Jr. is undersized for a full-time role at defensive tackle, but he doesn’t need to be an every-down player to matter. A rotational spot is well within reach.
Right now, the Falcons’ defensive tackle group includes Brandon Dorlus, Zach Harrison, Maason Smith, LaCale London, and Da’Shawn Hand. After that, the depth chart opens up quickly. Allen Jr. will be battling Ross Blacklock and Chris Williams for a roster spot, and with Thompson stuck on the sideline, he has a real chance to turn his college production into an NFL opening once training camp begins.
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