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Atlanta Falcons DST

Player Outlook
The Falcons were a borderline startable unit in 2025 and invested a significant amount in free agency and the draft to make up for the fact that they lost David Onyemata and Dee Alford in free agency. This unit was second in sacks last season, and the addition of Josh Uche should only help that. If Chris Johnson can succeed at corner as a rookie, the defense could be legitimately good. The biggest argument in their favor is that they open the season with the Steelers and Panthers. They should be drafted as a top-10 defense in the final two rounds of Fantasy drafts.

Fantasy News

  • Falcons' Cobee Bryant: Battling for roster spot

    Rotowire
    Bryant (concussion) is battling for a spot on the Falcons' 53-man roster for the 2026 season, Scott Kennedy of SI.com reports. Bryant joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in July of 2025 and spent the first half of last season on the practice squad before signing to the active roster in November. He entered the league's concussion protocol during the Falcons' Week 18 clash against the Saints and finished the regular season with 10 tackles (eight solo) and a pass defense across seven games. Bryant is fully healthy for the start of training camp, and given the depth in the Falcons' secondary, his clearest path to cracking the 53-man roster figures to be as a regular contributor on special teams.
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  • Falcons' Troy Andersen: Opening training camp on PUP

    Rotowire
    Atlanta placed Andersen (knee) on the active/PUP list Wednesday. Andersen suffered a knee injury during the 2024 season, which was severe enough for him to miss the entire 2025 campaign. It appears he's still working through the issue, though Andersen is eligible to participate in training camp practices once he's fully healthy. He was selected by the Falcons in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and is entering the final year of his four-year rookie deal.
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  • Falcons' DeAngelo Malone: Working through injury

    Rotowire
    Malone (undisclosed) was placed on the Falcons' active/PUP list Wednesday. The nature and severity of Malone's injury have not been announced, but the 2022 third-rounder will be eligible to participate in practice and preseason games once he's fully healthy. He contributed mostly on special teams in 2025, and logged eight tackles (two solo) and one interception across nine regular-season games.
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  • Falcons' Mike Hughes: Ready for training camp

    Rotowire
    Hughes is participating in the Falcons' training camp practices, Daniel Flick of ajc.com reports. Hughes ended the 2025 season on injured reserve with an ankle injury. The cornerback spent the offseason rehabbing the issue and is all set to return to the field for the 2026 season. He will rejoin a Falcons secondary consisting of A.J. Terrell, Jessie Bates, Xavier Watts (undisclosed) and Billy Bowman (Achilles), ready to assist the team in its attempt to take the NFC South title from the Panthers.
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  • Falcons' Zach Harrison: Opening camp on active/NFI

    Rotowire
    The Falcons placed Harrison (undisclosed) on the active/non-football injury list Wednesday. Harrison suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 7 of last season but participated in the offseason program, so it's unclear if his placement on the NFI list is related to that issue. After logging 22 tackles (nine solo), including 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles across 57 percent of the defensive snaps when healthy last season, Harrison is expected to be a key member of the Falcons' defensive line rotation in 2026.
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  • Falcons' Anterio Thompson: Placed on NFI list

    Rotowire
    The Falcons placed Thompson (undisclosed) on the active/non-football injury list Saturday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. Per Josh Kendall of The Athletic, an injury prevented Thompson from participating in offseason activities, though the nature and severity of the issue is unclear. Once fully healthy, the rookie sixth-rounder will be eligible to participate in practices.
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  • Falcons' Divine Deablo: Green dot signals larger role

    Rotowire
    Deablo is set for expanded responsibilities on defense in the 2026 season, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. Deablo has inherited the green dot from departed linebacker Kaden Elliss. Those communication duties not only keep him central to Atlanta's defense, but also create a path to steadier snaps and tackle opportunities. The 27-year-old impressed while healthy in his inaugural campaign with the Falcons last year, totaling 73 tackles (38 solo), including 1.0 sacks, plus seven passes defensed and one fumble recovery across 13 regular-season games. With his expanded role, Deablo's value in IDP formats figures to grow in 2026.
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  • Falcons' Bralen Trice: Back from knee injury

    Rotowire
    Trice (knee) was spotted participating in Wednesday's practice, Will McFadden of BigNewsNetwork.com reports. Trice, a 2024 third-round pick from Washington, has yet to make his NFL debut due to a knee injury sustained during the 2024 preseason. However, he was spotted participating in the full 11-on-11 periods of practice, suggesting he's now moved past the issue. Expect Trice to compete for a reserve role in Atlanta's edge-rush corps ahead of the 2026 season.
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  • Falcons' Devonnsha Maxwell: Finds work in Atlanta

    Rotowire
    The Falcons signed Maxwell on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Maxwell is coming off a productive season with the DC Defenders of the UFL in 2026, posting 23 total tackles, including 4.0 sacks, across 10 regular-season games. Now in Atlanta, he's expected to compete for a reserve interior defensive lineman role.
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  • Falcons' Xavier Watts: Sitting out practice as precaution

    Rotowire
    Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday at mandatory minicamp that Watts (undisclosed) is not practicing due to a minor injury, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. Stefanski declined to get into the specifics of Watts' injury, but he indicated that the team is simply being cautious with his health. The 2025 third-round pick emerged as a standout at safety as a rookie, suiting up for all 17 regular-season games and totaling 96 tackles (59 solo) and 11 passes defensed, including five interceptions. There are no indications that Watts' status for the start of training camp in July is of any concern.
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  • Falcons' James Pearce: Present for minicamp

    Rotowire
    Pearce was present for his physical Monday prior to the Falcons' mandatory minicamp, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The report notes that Pearce has entered a diversion program to resolve to his legal matter stemming from a Feb. 7 incident which included being charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy indicated to ESPN on Monday that Pearce's situation "remains under review of the (league's) personal conduct policy." As a rookie last year, Pearce -- who is on track to take the field during this week's minicamp -- recorded 26 tackles, including 10.5 sacks, in 17 regular-season games.
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  • Falcons' Kendal Daniels: Out of boot

    Rotowire
    Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Wednesday that Daniels is "good to go" and "out of the boot" that he was in last week, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. Daniels, a 2026 fourth-round pick from Oklahoma, appeared to have picked up a lower-leg injury during Atlanta's OTAs. However, it appears he's already moved past the issue. During his final collegiate season, the 23-year-old posted 53 total tackles, including nine tackles for loss, and three passes defensed over 13 contests. Expect Daniels to play a depth role in the Falcons' linebacker corps during his rookie campaign.
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  • Falcons' Malik Verdon: Has been participating in OTAs

    Rotowire
    Verdon (shoulder) has been taking part in Atlanta's OTAs. Verdon signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent last May but didn't see any time during his rookie campaign. He began the season on the reserve/non-football injury list, and though he was designated to return in mid-November, Verdon ultimately wasn't activated. Verdon now appears to be back to health and will have a chance during the preseason to compete for a depth spot in the Falcons' secondary.
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  • Falcons' Billy Bowman: Recovering well from injury

    Rotowire
    Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Bowman is recovering well from his Achilles injury, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. Bowman is close to being at full health after suffering a torn Achilles last November. The 23-year-old isn't yet healthy enough to be a full participant in practice, however.
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  • Falcons' Darren Hall: Welcomed back by Atlanta

    Rotowire
    The Falcons signed Hall on Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports. Hall was drafted by the Falcons in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The San Diego State product appeared in 31 games (10 starts) over two years but was cut in training camp in August of 2023. He most recently played with the Cardinals, starting two games in 2025. Hall will add depth to the Falcons' secondary and likely needs to contribute on special teams.
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  • Falcons' Kendal Daniels: Drafted by Falcons

    Rotowire
    The Falcons selected Daniels in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 134th overall. Daniels (6-foot-5, 242 pounds) actually began his college career as a safety at Oklahoma State, where he was quite productive before transferring to Oklahoma to play linebacker. Daniels' frame is almost certainly linebacker-only at the NFL level, and his 4.79-second pro day 40 additionally ensures he will stick at linebacker for the Falcons.
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  • Falcons' Maason Smith: Sent to Atlanta

    Rotowire
    The Falcons acquired Smith from the Jaguars on Friday in exchange for Ruke Orhorhoro, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Both Smith and Orhorhoro were second-round picks in the 2024 Draft and will get a change of scenery. In two seasons with the Jaguars, Smith appeared in 24 regular-season contests and logged 32 tackles (14 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and four pass breakups.
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  • Jaguars' Ruke Orhorhoro: Flipped to Jacksonville

    Rotowire
    The Jaguars acquired Orhorhoro from the Falcons on Friday in exchange for Maason Smith, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The two teams are swapping defensive tackles, both of whom were second-round picks in the 2024 Draft. After playing just 148 defensive snaps across eight regular-season appearances as a rookie, Orhorhoro appeared in all 17 regular-season games in 2025 and posted 25 tackles (12 solo), including 3.5 sacks, and one pass breakup. He'll go to a 4-3 defensive front in Jacksonville.
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  • Falcons' DeAngelo Malone: Signs with Atlanta

    Rotowire
    The Falcons signed Malone on Wednesday. Malone missed the second half of last season on injured reserve with an ankle injury. In four campaigns with the Falcons, Malone has appeared in 58 regular-season contests, logging 59 tackles (32 solo), including 3.0 sacks.
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  • Dolphins' Ronnie Harrison: Set to sign with Dolphins

    Rotowire
    The Dolphins are signing Harrison to a one-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Harrison logged 29 tackles and 2.0 sacks in 10 regular-season games with the Falcons in 2025. The 2018 third-rounder started his pro career as a safety then transitioned to linebacker, a position Miami needed to bolster ahead of the coming campaign. He'll provide his new team with depth at the position as well as special-teams ability.
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