The Falcons’ defensive front has taken enough hits to make a move feel necessary, and a trade target has already been floated as a possible fit.
Atlanta is dealing with injuries and off-field issues in its edge rusher room, and the latest blow came when De'Shawn Hand was ruled out for the entire 2026 regular season because of a quad tear. That leaves the Falcons with a clear opening inside, and one name that has surfaced is Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Solomon Thomas.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report tied Atlanta to Thomas as one of the “potential suitors,” alongside the Los Angeles Chargers. Knox also put a “projected trade value” on Thomas at a “conditional 7th-round draft pick,” a price that would make him a manageable add for a team trying to patch a hole without paying heavily for it.
Thomas, who entered the league as a first-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, has settled into a useful depth role over his 10-year NFL career. He spent the 2025 season with the Cowboys and finished with 27 tackles and three tackles for loss, though he did not record a sack.
Before that, he was more disruptive with the Jets, posting 3.5 sacks in 2024 and 5.0 sacks in 2023. That kind of production, even if it comes in spurts, gives him a case as a veteran interior lineman worth considering.
If Hand were available, Atlanta likely wouldn’t be looking at this type of move. But with that season-long absence creating a gap on the defensive front, Thomas looks like the sort of low-cost swing that could make sense for the Falcons.
In Other News...
Former Cowboys Pass Rusher Returns With Something To Prove In Dallas
Dorance Armstrong is set to make his 2026 debut Sunday against the Cowboys, a familiar opponent for a pass rusher who spent years in Dallas before moving on to Washington. After serving a one-game suspension and working back from the torn ACL that wiped out most of last season, Armstrong enters the matchup with a fresh chance to reestablish himself in a game that still carries some extra edge for everyone involved.
Washington's staff has said it is confident Armstrong is ready to go, and the plan is to rotate him with the rest of the pass-rush group to keep his workload manageable. For Dallas, that means facing a former defensive end who knows the building, the personnel and the stage, even if the bigger question now is how much of Armstrong's old burst has returned after such a long absence. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Just Raised The Stakes For Dallas' Shaky Defense
Jerry Jones didnt sound interested in pretending the Cowboys defensive performance in Week 1 was anything close to where it needs to be. The team owner acknowledged Dallas underestimated the Giants in the opener, and with Washington up next, he pointed to the defense as the area most likely to show a better version of itself in a game that already feels important for setting the tone of the season.
The challenge for Dallas is that belief and execution are two different things, and the defense has given plenty of reasons for skepticism already. Jones is framing the Commanders matchup as a chance to reset, but until the Cowboys actually string together a cleaner outing, every promise of improvement comes with a layer of doubt that the schedule will quickly test. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones May Soon Face A Cowboys Decision He Hates
Brian Schottenheimers second season in Dallas already carries the sort of early pressure that tends to come with this franchise, even if the Cowboys have historically shown more patience with head coaches than most. After going 7-9-1 in his first year, Schottenheimer watched the team open a new defensive chapter by moving on from Matt Eberflus and turning the unit over to Christian Parker, a change meant to steady a side of the ball that has been a major point of concern.
Instead, the defense stumbled in Week 1 against the New York Giants, and that is where the unease begins to creep in for a team that cannot afford another losing year. There is already speculation about Schottenheimers seat if the record goes the wrong way again, and for Jerry Jones, the uncomfortable part may be less about making a change than having to consider one at all. [Read more 🡒]