With the 53-man roster now set ahead of the 2026 NFL season, the Falcons know exactly who’s in line for the bulk of the snaps on Sundays. That clarity is useful, but it also exposes the soft spots. Atlanta has some real strengths in place, yet the roster still has holes, and it’s clear this group is not finished.
Ian Cunningham has already made one notable move by trading for Gervon Dexter, but the options beyond that are thin. The open market is not offering much, and any trade for an active-roster player would come at a steep price this late in the offseason. That leaves a more practical hunting ground: the other 31 practice squads around the league.
Here are five players who could make sense as upgrades for the Falcons.
Clelin Ferrell, DE, Miami Dolphins
Ferrell has carried the “bust” label for years, but that doesn’t mean he can’t help Atlanta. The Falcons’ edge group has taken hits, and Ferrell would not need to be a high-volume pass rusher to matter.
Over the last three seasons, he’s produced 3.5, 3.5 and 4.0 sacks in limited action. That’s enough to make him worth a look, especially with him currently sitting on Miami’s practice squad.
Will Putnam, IOL, Las Vegas Raiders
Atlanta’s depth on the offensive line remains a question, and Putnam could help address it. It may sound odd to target a player who didn’t make the Raiders’ roster, particularly up front, but Las Vegas overhauled that unit this offseason. Putnam is a flexible interior lineman who logged a solid number of live snaps last year, and he also turned in a better preseason than expected.
Lander Barton, LB, Los Angeles Chargers
Barton entered the spring with some buzz after coming out of Utah, and he backed that up with a strong preseason in Los Angeles. He can work inside as an off-ball linebacker, and he also has the edge flexibility to rush the quarterback. He’s still raw, but with the Falcons’ linebacker room lacking depth, Barton would give them a developmental piece with some real versatility.
Rayshaun Benny, DT, Baltimore Ravens
Benny brings size, power and a physical edge to the defensive interior, along with enough pass-rush ability to matter. He showed flashes of both in Baltimore this August. If Atlanta wants more help at defensive tackle, both for the present and with an eye on the future, Benny fits the profile.
Tristan Leigh, OT, Minnesota Vikings
Leigh is more of a long-term project than an immediate answer, but the Falcons don’t have a ton behind Jake Matthews and Jawaan Taylor at tackle. A former five-star recruit, Leigh has obvious tools and room to grow, and he put together some encouraging preseason reps. Calling him an upgrade might be too strong, but he’s the kind of player worth a flyer.
In Other News...
Falcons Week 1 Quarterback Decision Just Raised A Bigger Offensive Question
The Falcons have settled their Week 1 quarterback spot, with Tua Tagovailoa earning the job over Michael Penix Jr. after a summer competition. He will open the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, giving Atlanta a clear answer at the most scrutinized position on the roster as the team tries to get its offense pointed in the right direction.
But the decision also leaves a bigger question hanging over the group, especially with Atlanta set to keep four quarterbacks on the roster in Tagovailoa, Penix, Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. The depth chart now has a defined top spot, yet the way the Falcons chose to build around it suggests the quarterback room will remain one of the most closely watched parts of the team as the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Strange Running Back Decision Finally Makes Sense
The Falcons decision to open the 2026 season with just two running backs on the 53-man roster looked odd at first, especially with Tyler Goodson expected to be the No. 3 option. Instead, Atlanta kept Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. active and pushed Goodson to the practice squad, a move tied directly to the teams choice to carry four quarterbacks on the roster as insurance.
For a team trying to balance depth across the roster, it was less about running back numbers than protecting itself at the most important spot on the field. Falcons executive Ian Cunningham made clear the setup is not fixed, either, saying the roster could change during the season depending on quarterback health and other needs, which leaves open the possibility that Atlantas backfield picture is only temporary. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Week 1 QB Decision Says Plenty About Michael Penix Jr
The Falcons have settled on Tua Tagovailoa to open the season at quarterback against the Steelers, a choice that says as much about the teams present as its future. With Michael Penix Jr. still working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered last November, Atlanta is leaning on the veteran presence Tagovailoa brings, even after a preseason that did little to inspire confidence.
For Penix, the move is a reminder that the path back is still the priority, not the depth chart. Atlanta clearly sees his rehabilitation as a longer process, and for now the job belongs to the quarterback who can take the first snap when Week 1 arrives. What happens after that will depend on how quickly Penix gets healthy and how much the Falcons are willing to wait. [Read more 🡒]