Falcons’ Wide Receiver Woes Hit New Low as Injuries and Depth Issues Mount
The Atlanta Falcons’ wide receiver room has been a revolving door for a while now, but Week 13 might have marked rock bottom. In a last-second loss to the New York Jets, Kirk Cousins completed passes to just four wide receivers - and three of them were undrafted free agents.
That’s not a misprint. With Drake London sidelined again and Darnell Mooney serving as the only drafted wideout available, the Falcons leaned on Dylan Drummond, Deven Thompkins, and David Sills to carry the load.
All three entered the league as undrafted players. And while every NFL roster has its share of UDFAs, relying on three of them to play meaningful snaps in a single game - with just one injury to a starter - is a sign of how thin this position group has become.
Head coach Raheem Morris addressed the situation this week, emphasizing that playing time is being determined by practice performance. That’s a standard approach, but it also shines a light on the bigger issue: if a team doesn’t know what it has in a player by Week 14, especially one who wasn’t drafted, it’s a tough sell to justify giving them significant in-game reps - unless there are no better options.
And right now, for Atlanta, there aren’t.
A Position Group Held Together by Tape and Hope
The Falcons’ current depth chart tells the story. Outside of London, Mooney, and rookie Casey Washington, every other wide receiver on the roster entered the league undrafted.
That means half the room is made up of players who weren’t even considered worthy of a late-round flyer. For a position as critical as wide receiver - especially in today’s pass-happy NFL - that’s a glaring roster construction issue.
And it’s not just about pedigree. Production has been a problem too.
In the loss to the Jets, Drummond, Thompkins, and Sills combined for just five catches and 41 yards. Meanwhile, tight end Kyle Pitts outgained them all by himself, hauling in seven catches for 82 yards.
When your tight end is your most reliable downfield threat - and not because he’s Travis Kelce or George Kittle - that’s a red flag.
A Missed Opportunity in Roster Building
It’s hard not to point to the front office when evaluating how the Falcons got here. General manager Terry Fontenot and his staff focused heavily on improving the pass rush this past offseason - and to their credit, that part has worked.
But in doing so, they completely overlooked the wide receiver position. The result?
A group that’s now being patched together week by week.
Over the past six drafts, Atlanta has selected just three wide receivers. Three.
That’s 42 total picks, and only three were used to address a position that’s become one of the most important in the modern game. Outside of Drake London, the last wideout the Falcons drafted who made a real impact was Calvin Ridley - all the way back in 2018.
Free agency hasn’t filled the gap either. Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud were the only notable additions in 2024, and neither has emerged as a consistent difference-maker. McCloud, in particular, has struggled to carve out a meaningful role.
A Fix That Can’t Wait
Raheem Morris is clearly aware of the issue, even if his hands are tied midseason. The team has already started cycling through veteran options, including K.J.
Osborn, in an attempt to stabilize the group. But that’s more of a stopgap than a solution.
Looking ahead, the Falcons need to make wide receiver a priority in the 2026 NFL Draft. Not just a Round 6 afterthought - a real investment.
This upcoming class is expected to be deep, and Atlanta has the opportunity to finally build out some sustainable depth behind London. That doesn’t mean overcorrecting with four picks at the position, but it does mean doing the homework, diving deep into tape, and finding receivers who can contribute early and grow into long-term contributors.
Because what we saw in Week 13 - three UDFAs playing key roles in a one-score game - can’t become the norm. Not for a team trying to climb back into contention. Not in this league.