The Atlanta Falcons are making another major deadline move, and this one hits right in the middle of the offensive line. Atlanta is sending starting center Ryan Neuzil to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round draft pick, according to a source.
It’s a surprising deal on the surface. Neuzil has been a steady part of the Falcons’ offensive front over the past two seasons and has played almost exclusively at center. He has been the team’s starter since 2025, giving Atlanta a familiar anchor in the middle.
But the contract situation helps explain why the Falcons chose to act now. Neuzil is in the final year of his deal, which gave Atlanta a chance to turn him into assets instead of risking losing him in free agency. There’s also a connection to Baltimore: Ravens offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford recruited Neuzil to Appalachian State, and the two later reunited in Atlanta.
The trade also adds another piece to a busy Tuesday for the Falcons. Earlier in the day, Atlanta signed Jake Moody from the Ravens practice squad and released Nick Folk in a corresponding move.
Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney also reported that the team released edge rusher Drake Jackson from the practice squad and added former Denver Broncos safety Delarrin Turner-Yell and center Gus Hartwig to the
The Neuzil deal follows another notable move from Atlanta, which traded veteran safety Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars just one day earlier. In that deal, the Falcons received a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
Taken together, the moves show a clear pattern. Atlanta is heading into the deadline with its eyes on future draft capital rather than pushing chips in for a playoff run.
That fits the approach general manager Ian Cunningham has been laying out. During his introductory press conference, he emphasized how much he values extra draft picks and the flexibility they create. He has described draft selections as currency, saying that more picks give a team more chances to find impact players.
That mindset is showing up in real time in Atlanta. Cunningham previously helped oversee Chicago’s draft strategy as assistant general manager, and he appears to be bringing that same philosophy to the Falcons.
In Vorhees, Atlanta gets a 27-year-old interior offensive lineman with starting experience. Baltimore drafted him in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of USC, and he started all 17 games for the Ravens in 2025.
His addition gives the Falcons another option up front as they sort out who will take over at center after Neuzil’s departure.
Between the Bates trade and now this move, Atlanta is making its direction unmistakable: build for what comes next, stockpile picks, and keep reshaping the roster around Cunningham’s long-term plan.
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Giants Deadline Aggression Was Bigger Than Fans Realized
The trade deadline chatter around New York was not limited to its own roster, and one of the more surprising calls reportedly reached Atlanta. The Giants were said to have explored a deal for Bijan Robinson, a sign of just how aggressively they were searching for help before the deadline and how highly they viewed the Falcons running back.
From Atlantas side, the idea never really had much traction. Robinson is seen as a franchise cornerstone, and the Falcons recently locked him in with a new deal, making any move for him a long shot from the start. With New York also pulling back from its pursuit of Jonathan Taylor, the Giants appear set to move forward with what they have, while Atlanta continues building around one of its most important offensive pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Fans Will Want To Know How Far This Bijan Pursuit Went
The Giants spent the 2026 NFL trade deadline exploring ways to shake up their roster, but they came away empty-handed after failing to complete any deals. Among the names they reportedly checked on were Jeffery Simmons, Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson, a sign they were at least kicking the tires on a major move before deciding to stand pat.
For Falcons fans, the Robinson mention is the one worth filing away. Atlanta has treated him like a centerpiece since handing him a three-year extension worth up to $75 million this offseason, and the fact that his name surfaced in deadline chatter only underscores how much league-wide interest there is in the running back. For now, the Giants will keep moving forward with Cam Skattebo in the backfield, while the Falcons can at least take note of how far the pursuit apparently went. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Changed Their Offensive Line Plan In A Big Way
The Falcons have altered the middle of their offensive line in a notable way, moving on from Ryan Neuzil after he spent the past two seasons as their full-time starting center. In return, Atlanta added guard Andrew Vorhees, a player who has already logged 22 starts for Baltimore since entering the league in 2023, along with a 2028 sixth-round draft pick.
The deal leaves a clear opening at center, and Corey Levin now appears to be in line for the first real chance to step into that role. For a line that has been trying to settle itself, this is a significant shift in the plan, with Atlanta betting on a different mix up front as it reshapes the interior around Vorhees and whatever comes next at center. [Read more 🡒]