The Falcons may have found a rookie linebacker who isn’t waiting around to act like a rookie.
Kendal Daniels has already made himself impossible to ignore in Atlanta camp, and it starts with the way he carries himself around the team’s biggest names. Bijan Robinson and Drake London are the kinds of players first-year defenders are usually careful around.
Daniels hasn’t played it that way. He’s been talking trash to both, and he’s celebrating so loudly that it can be heard from the sideline.
On top of that, he’s handling the green dot on defense.
And he’s excelling.
Daniel Flick noted on August 19, 2026, that Daniels “has got the ability to play and contribute early.” That’s the kind of praise that carries weight this time of year, especially for a mid-round pick who is already drawing that much attention.
What makes Daniels stand out is not just the swagger, but how quickly he has backed it up. He turned in a strong preseason debut, running around the field with the kind of energy that made him look like the second coming of De'Vondre Campbell. There were still coaching points to clean up, including better hand usage at the line for Jeff Ulbrich to work on, but Daniels already looks ahead of schedule.
That matters because the linebacker room in Atlanta still has some questions. Divine Deablo is the only sure thing after Kaden Elliss’ departure, which leaves room for Daniels to push for a real role. The former Oklahoma Sooner is already stepping into the kind of responsibility that tells you the staff trusts him.
The green-dot assignment says plenty on its own. Teams do not hand that job to a player they think is just passing through. Daniels is already being asked to help steer the defense, and that’s a strong sign of how the coaches view him.
There’s also a bigger comparison floating around in the background. Daniels, along with Harold Perkins Jr., brings to mind the 2016 rookie linebacker pairing of De'Vondre Campbell and Deion Jones.
In that Super Bowl season, both rookies quickly became impact players. The resemblance is obvious enough: Daniels as the bigger, more athletic linebacker, Perkins Jr. as the safety-like playmaker.
Whether this year’s duo gets the same amount of run as that group did a decade ago remains to be seen. But they are already making it hard for the coaches to keep them on the sideline.
The next two preseason games should tell even more, and both Daniels and Perkins Jr. are expected to see heavy workloads so they can keep showing what they can do.
For now, though, Daniels has already done enough to become one of the Falcons’ biggest offseason stories. He looks confident, he sounds confident, and he’s playing like someone who believes he belongs.
In Other News...
Falcons Ownership Shift Could Mean More Than Fans Realize
The Falcons are on the cusp of another notable shift in ownership, with private-equity firm Arctos reportedly lined up to buy a minority stake in the franchise. Arthur Blank still controls just under 73 percent of the team, and while the exact source of the stake is not fully clear, the planned investment would be a meaningful sign of how far Atlantas market value has climbed.
The arrangement is expected to unfold over 18 months in two tranches, which makes it more than just a simple transaction. It also still has to clear the NFLs approval process, with owners expected to vote in October, leaving one more formal step before the deal becomes part of the Falcons long-term financial picture. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Depth Chart Sends A Clear Message About Key Roster Battles
The Falcons second unofficial depth chart ahead of their joint practice and preseason game against the Colts offered another snapshot of where the roster stands in August. Cooper Rush is now listed as the starter at quarterback over Jack Strand, while Jawaan Taylor is back in the starting lineup and ZaDarius Smith has been added as a fifth-string edge rusher after coming out of retirement. It is the kind of preseason update that does not settle anything, but it does show how Atlanta is sorting through the back end of the roster and the top of a few position battles.
For a team still in evaluation mode, these listings matter because they hint at how the Falcons are viewing competition heading into a key week of work. Joint practices usually tell a little more than depth charts do, but the chart still gives a clear read on who is getting the first look and who is sliding into a more complicated fight for playing time. The Colts matchup will offer the next layer of clues, especially for players trying to turn a temporary listing into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Week 1 QB Question They Didn't Want
Tua Tagovailoas joint practice against the Colts added another layer to Atlantas quarterback conversation, and not in the way the Falcons were hoping. He finished 8 of 13 with little downfield success and a pick-six, the kind of uneven outing that stands out even in an August setting. It comes at a time when the team is still trying to get a clearer read on its quarterback picture before the season opens.
Michael Penix Jr. remains out while recovering from ACL surgery, and he has not taken part in 11-on-11 work. For now, Tagovailoa is still the expected Week 1 starter unless Penix gets back on the field, shows he is ready and makes a stronger case. Until then, Atlanta is left balancing projection, health and performance with the opener approaching. [Read more 🡒]