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
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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' Brandon Dorlus: Has been taking part in OTAs
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Dorlus (hamstring) has been participating in the Falcons' OTAs.
Dorlus hurt his hamstring in Week 17 of last season and missed Atlanta's Week 18 matchup versus New Orleans. He was a key contributor for the team's defense prior to getting hurt, starting nine of the 15 games in which he played and tallying 27 tackles, including 8.5 sacks. Dorlus appears to be fully healthy again and is slated to have a big role for the Falcons again in 2026.
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Falcons' Billy Bowman: Recovering well from injury
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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
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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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Justin Simmons: Retiring a Bronco
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Simmons announced Wednesday that he is retiring from football.
Exactly 10 years after he was drafted by Denver in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Simmons announced his retirement. Over eight NFL seasons with the Broncos and one with the Falcons, he recorded 666 tackles and 32 interceptions in 134 games. He was named second-team All Pro four times in five seasons from 2019 to 2023, and he received Pro Bowl honors twice. He currently stands tied for seventh on Denver's list of all-time interception leaders.
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Falcons' Kendal Daniels: Drafted by Falcons
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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
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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
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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
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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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DeAngelo Malone: Visits Tampa Bay
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Malone (ankle) visited the Bucs on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
The 26-year-old edge rusher appeared in nine regular-season games for the Falcons last season, operating primarily on special teams, before he was placed on injured reserve in November. Malone has made 58 career regular-season appearances across four seasons, producing 59 tackles (32 solo), including 3.0 sacks.
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Dolphins' Ronnie Harrison: Set to sign with Dolphins
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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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Giants' Sam Roberts: Joins forces with G-Men
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Roberts (knee) agreed to terms Monday on a one-year contract with the Giants, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Roberts suited up for five regular-season games with Atlanta in 2025, in which span he recorded a career-high 18 tackles (six solo), including 1.0 sack. The 2022 sixth-round pick now will provide depth at defensive tackle behind Dexter Lawrence for New York. Roberts appears to have recovered from the knee issue that forced him to sit out the final eight games of the 2025 campaign.
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Eagles' Arnold Ebiketie: Signs with Philly
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Ebiketie signed a one-year contract worth up to $7.3 million with the Eagles on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Ebiketie gets $4.3 million guaranteed and has appeared in 67 of a possible 68 regular-season games since entering the league as a 2022 second-round pick of the Falcons. He started only 12 of those contests as a part-time player on defense for Atlanta. Despite the limited snaps, Ebiketie has 16.5 career sacks and will add juice to Philly's pass rush.
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Falcons' LaCale London: Staying in Atlanta
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London re-signed with the Falcons on Thursday.
The Western Illinois product will now remain with the Falcons after spending his first two NFL seasons with the team. London proved to be an impactful defensive lineman during his 2025 campaign, posting 30 total tackles, including 5.0 sacks, one pass defensed and one forced fumble across just 13 appearances. Expect the 28-year-old to remain a key part of the Falcons' defensive line in 2026.
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Bears' Kentavius Street: Signs with Chicago
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Street is expected to sign with the Bears, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports.
Street spent the past three seasons with the Falcons and is now set to head to Chicago. The 29-year-old has amassed 10.5 sacks across his eight-year career and will likely serve as a depth defender with the Bears.
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Saints' Kaden Elliss: Back to NOLA
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Elliss agreed to terms Tuesday on a three-year, $33 million contract with the Saints, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Elliss played nearly every defensive snap for the Falcons over the past three seasons, piling up at least 107 tackles each year while totaling 12.5 sacks and two interceptions in that stretch. Now, he'll return to the team that drafted him in the seventh round back in 2019. The 30-year-old is set to receive $23 million guaranteed, which puts him in a strong position to start at inside linebacker next to Pete Werner in 2026.
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Jets' David Onyemata: Agrees to join Jets
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Onyemata agreed to a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Jets on Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Onyemata's contract, which can be officially signed at the start of the new league year Wednesday, includes $9.65 million in guaranteed money. He's projected to work as a starter on the interior of the Jets' defensive line after posting a career-high 62 tackles (29 solo) in 17 games for the Falcons in 2025.
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Falcons' James Pearce: Arrested on battery charges
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Pearce was arrested in Florida on Saturday on two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and a count of aggravated stalking, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Pearce was also charged with fleeing and eluding police officers, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer without violence to his person before being booked at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Given the nature of his changes, Pearce is expected to face discipline from the NFL, though the league will likely wait to make any such determination until more information emerges and the legal process plays out. Shortly after Pearce's arrest, the Falcons acknowledged in a statement that they are aware of the incident and are in the process of gathering more information on the matter, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The No. 26 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Pearce finished third in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting after tallying 26 tackles, 10.5 sacks, five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery while playing in all 17 games during his first season in the league.
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Falcons' Ruke Orhorhoro: More snaps in second season
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Orhorhoro played in all 17 regular-season games in 2025 and finished with 25 tackles (12 solo), including 3.5 sacks, and one pass defense.
The 2024 second-rounder out of Clemson operated in a rotational role in his rookie season. Orhorhoro saw an expanded role on defense in his sophomore campaign, starting in eight of the Falcons' final 12 games while forming a young defensive front with rookie first-rounders Jalon Walker and James Pearce. Orhorhoro should see prominent playing time in 2026 as the anchor to the Atlanta's D-line.
