The Atlanta Falcons keep adding names to a tight end group that already looked crowded, and that leaves undrafted rookie Jack Velling in an even tougher spot.
Atlanta has Kyle Pitts locked in as the centerpiece, with Austin Hooper and Charlie Woerner set to handle the backup work. Because the Falcons are expected to lean on plenty of 12 and 13 personnel, they still need depth at the position. But the path for Velling to crack the Week 1 roster was narrow from the start, and it may have gotten even tighter with the addition of free agent tight end Nick Muse.
The Falcons reportedly signed Muse on August 11, 2026, after he had just been with the Lions. He also spent last season with the Jets, Rams, and AZCardinals, according to the report. In roster terms, that means another experienced body is now in the mix for a spot Velling was already fighting to win.
Muse brings a lot more NFL mileage than Velling. The 2022 seventh-round pick spent three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and has also bounced through practice-squad stops with the Eagles, Cardinals, Jets, Rams, and Lions. He’s been around.
Velling, by contrast, has no NFL snaps on his résumé. And among Atlanta’s undrafted free agents, his financial commitment from the team was tiny. His prorated guarantee came in at just $10,000, the fifth-lowest of any UDFA the Falcons signed.
That’s a far cry from quarterback Jack Strand and receiver Vinny Anthony, who each received $262,500 in guarantees and look like they have a much better shot at making the Dirty Birds’ Week 1 roster. Velling’s contract situation suggests the Falcons view him more as a camp body than a real piece of the future.
He has shown a little something in camp, hauling in a couple of catches, but nothing that’s pushed the coaching staff into raving about his upside. The Michigan State product spent the last two seasons at a program that wasn’t exactly winning much, though he did score eight touchdowns for Oregon State in 2023.
There is some upside here, but if Atlanta truly believed in Velling long term, he probably would have separated himself from Joshua Simon by now. Instead, the Muse signing makes it feel like neither Velling nor Simon has quite lived up to expectations.
So while Velling hasn’t been cut yet, the reality is hard to miss: he was probably a long shot to make the Falcons’ roster anyway, and Muse’s arrival only makes that outcome look more inevitable.
In Other News...
Falcons Rookie Hype Is Facing An Early Camp Reality Check
The first two weeks of Falcons training camp have offered a useful reminder that early buzz is only part of the story. Rookie receiver Zachariah Branch has flashed enough to keep attention on him, but his reps have not matched the excitement, and Atlanta has leaned more on veteran Olamide Zaccheus as it works through the slot picture. For a team trying to sort out its passing-game mix, that kind of pecking order can say plenty before the preseason even starts.
Zaccheus has been making the most of his opportunity in practice, while Branch is still fighting for a clearer lane into the offense. The wrinkle for both is schematic as much as personnel-driven, since the Falcons are expected to lean on looks that do not feature many three-receiver sets. That leaves Branch facing an early camp reality that is less about hype and more about earning the snaps that will decide how quickly he fits into the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Preseason Debut Raised Two Early Concerns Fans Cant Ignore
The Falcons opened the preseason with a 27-7 loss to the Broncos, and the result came with a pair of familiar August concerns attached to it. Atlanta did get a first look at Tua Tagovailoa in game action, and the offense had a few moments of rhythm, with veteran receiver Chris Blair finishing as the teams leading receiver with 37 yards.
What stood out more, though, was how often Denver kept the Falcons from looking comfortable at the line of scrimmage. Atlantas pass rush had a hard time making life difficult for Jarrett Stidham, leaving the defense searching for answers after a night that offered more questions than encouraging signs. [Read more 🡒]
3 Falcons Enter Camp With Their Roster Spot On The Line
Training camp and the preseason tend to sharpen every little roster decision, and for the Falcons, that scrutiny has already landed on three players whose paths to the final roster are anything but secure. Jack Strand is in the mix at quarterback, while JD Bertrand and Bralen Trice are trying to show enough in live action to convince the coaching staff they belong when the roster starts coming into focus.
Preseason games are where those questions get answered, or at least clarified, and Atlanta will be watching all three closely as it sorts out who can help now and who might be the odd man out. Bertrand needs cleaner defensive play to keep himself from falling behind, Trice has to continue proving his value, and Strand is fighting for space at a position where every snap matters. [Read more 🡒]