Training camp has a way of turning anonymous names into real roster conversations, and Atlanta is getting that kind of late-summer jolt from a safety most fans probably didn’t know before he arrived. Keidron Smith, claimed off waivers by the Falcons about three weeks ago, is suddenly forcing some attention with a strong push at the exact time jobs start getting decided.
Smith looked like the kind of add teams make for depth while injuries sort themselves out, especially with Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts sidelined. But Tuesday’s practice suggested there may be more here than simple camp insurance. He turned in one of the best days of camp for Atlanta, and he did it in a hurry.
Per ESPN's Marc Raimondi, Smith intercepted two passes during Tuesday’s session, one thrown by Tua Tagovailoa and another by Jack Strand. That second pick matters too, since Strand is coming off a strong showing in Saturday’s win. On a day when the defense set the tone overall and four different defenders recorded sacks, Smith stood out as the player who helped his stock the most.
The 26-year-old has had to keep moving to stay in the league. He entered the NFL as a 2023 undrafted free agent with Miami, then spent time with the Broncos, Commanders and Jets before landing in Atlanta after New York waived him. That kind of path tells you he’s seen plenty, and it also explains why a big practice like this one matters so much.
Smith brings the kind of frame teams like at the back end of the defense. He’s 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, and he was named to the All-SEC Second Team in his final college season. That size and athletic profile give him a chance to be useful as a depth defensive back.
Still, the numbers on the depth chart are working against him. Watts and Bates are set as the starting safeties, while DeMarcco Hellams and Sydney Brown have both made noise this summer and would be tough to bump. Natrone Brooks and Darren Hall also have longer stays in the building than Smith.
That doesn’t mean Tuesday was meaningless. It may have been the kind of practice that shifts a player from afterthought to legitimate practice squad candidate, whether that ends up being in Atlanta or somewhere else. For a player who arrived with little fanfare, Smith has at least given the Falcons - and probably a few other teams - something to think about.
In Other News...
Falcons QB Buzz Just Hit A Reality Check At Camp
Jack Strand has become one of the more interesting side stories at Falcons training camp, a quick rise for an undrafted rookie who has taken advantage of extra work in the absence of Michael Penix Jr. and the uneven play from Tua Tagovailoa. The added reps have given Atlanta a longer look at a quarterback who arrived without much fanfare but has managed to make himself part of the conversation simply by holding his own in a crowded camp setting.
Kevin Stefanski did offer a reality check, though, making clear Strand is not in the current starting quarterback plans even as the team continues to give him practice snaps. Atlanta still appears inclined to lean toward Penix for Week 1, which leaves Strand in a familiar camp lane for an undrafted passer: developmental option, not immediate answer. Still, the fact that he has forced the Falcons to keep him involved at all says plenty about how quickly he has carved out a spot on the roster radar. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Face A Tempting Trade Decision They May Need To Resist
The Bears willingness to listen on Gervon Dexter has created a little buzz around the league, especially for teams that are always monitoring young defensive line help. Jordan Schultz reported that Chicago has had multiple trade discussions involving the 24-year-old tackle, who started all 17 games last season and showed enough pass-rush production to draw attention. For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious on the surface, particularly with general manager Ian Cunninghams Chicago ties giving the idea an easy connective thread.
Still, this is the kind of move the Falcons may need to resist rather than chase. Dexters run defense remains a question, and Atlanta already has to weigh the shape of its defensive tackle group against the cost of adding another player whose contract situation would factor into the equation. A tempting trade target can look cleaner from a distance than it does on the roster sheet, and this one may be better admired from afar. [Read more 🡒]
Cash Jones Just Made Falcons Final Cuts A Lot Tougher
Cash Jones gave the Falcons something useful to think about in Week 2 of the preseason, and not just because the undrafted running back showed up on the stat sheet. He was active as a receiver, added work on the ground, found the end zone and even handled a kick return, which is the kind of all-purpose usage that catches a coaching staffs eye at this stage of August.
Roster math is rarely simple this time of year, especially for a team projected to carry three running backs and five wide receivers. Jones case is that he can help in more than one room, and that versatility can tilt a final decision when the Falcons get down to their 53-man roster. [Read more 🡒]