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.
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Cam Wards Early Titans Debate Isnt As One-Sided As It Looks
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What makes the discussion more interesting is how familiar this stage can look when measured against other quarterbacks who later grew into franchise answers. Wards early career numbers in completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio sit in the same neighborhood as Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence, Sam Darnold and Josh Allen at similar points, which is why the Titans have reason to stay patient even after a rough start. The performance in Week 1 was below expectations, but the broader arc still feels unfinished. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Offense Already Has A Disturbing Week 2 Warning
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For a unit trying to find its footing, the concern is not just one bad afternoon but the possibility of a pattern. The Titans were shut out in a game last season, and the offenses broader issues have only sharpened the scrutiny around coordinator Brian Daboll, whose background with the Giants has already become part of the conversation when people look for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Have An Early Roster Problem They Can't Ignore
After a rough Week 1, the Chargers are already being pushed toward a roster fix, and the focus has quickly turned to their defensive line. With draft capital and cap room available, Los Angeles could look to the trade market for help, and analyst Kristopher Knox pointed to Solomon Thomas as the kind of depth addition that would make sense for a group that looked thin and unsettled right away.
For the Titans, that creates a watch point worth tracking as the early-season market takes shape. Tennessee has seen how quickly one injury concern can expose a units depth, and the Chargers now look like a team that may not be able to wait long to address the problem. If Los Angeles decides it has to act, players like Thomas become the sort of name that can move from speculative fit to real possibility in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]