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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' Clark Phillips: Returns for minicamp

    Rotowire
    Phillips (triceps/illness) was spotted participating in Tuesday's practice, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports. The fourth-year corner from Utah missed Atlanta's final 13 games in 2025 due to a triceps issue, but it now appears he's moved past the injury. Phillips was one of the Falcons' top corners in 2024, recording 35 total tackles, five passes defensed, including one interception, and two forced fumbles across 16 regular-season appearances. Now fully healthy, he's expected to compete for a reserve role in the secondary as the offseason progresses.
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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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  • Justin Simmons: Retiring a Bronco

    Rotowire
    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

    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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  • Giants' Sam Roberts: Joins forces with G-Men

    Rotowire
    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

    Rotowire
    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

    Rotowire
    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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  • Saints' Kaden Elliss: Back to NOLA

    Rotowire
    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

    Rotowire
    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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