FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. –The Atlanta Falcons’ roster currently sits at 90 players. On Aug. 27, it will be down to 53, with eight practices and three preseason games set to dictate who makes the cut and who doesn’t.

But with seven training camp practices — three of which with players wearing pads — in the rearview mirror, the Falcons’ initial roster is starting to take shape.

Here’s a look at our latest Atlanta Falcons on SI projections at the 53-man roster and practice squad …

Quarterbacks (3)

On the team: Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr., Nathan Rourke

Practice squad: N/A

Cut: Taylor Heinicke

With teams being able to make their third quarterback inactive on gamedays but still eligible to play as emergency options, it’s heavily incentivized to carry a trio of passers.

Heinicke said after Atlanta’s open practice July 27 at Seckinger High School that he sees the writing on the wall about his future with Cousins and Penix taking nearly all of the 11-on-11 snaps. The Falcons followed suit by releasing undrafted rookie quarterback John Paddock and signing former Canadian Football League star Nathan Rourke on Thursday.

If the Falcons weren’t planning on letting Heinicke walk, then the Paddock/Rourke swap would have been unnecessary. Instead, Atlanta seems likely to keep Rourke as its emergency third quarterback and give Heinicke a fresh start.

Atlanta already received most of the salary cap relief from Heinicke when they gave him a pay cut earlier this year, but they would still save $1.2 million if they move on from him before the season starts.

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Running Backs (4)

On the team: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Avery Williams, Jase McClellan

Practice squad: Carlos Washington Jr.

Cut: Robert Burns

McClellan and Washington Jr. comprise one of the Falcons’ more intriguing camp battles, and each have been strong of late. The preseason will ultimately dictate the winner, but the 22-year-old McClellan, a sixth-round rookie, is three years younger than Washington, an undrafted free agent in 2023, and has more capital invested into him.

Burns has missed all of training camp with a lower-body injury but has begun working out and rehabbing. He’s currently on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

Receivers (6)

On the team: Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud, KhaDarel Hodge, Rondale Moore, Casey Washington

Practice squad: Austin Mack, Josh Ali, Chris Blair

Cut: James Washington, OJ Hiliare, Jesse Matthews, Dylan Drummond

The bottom of the depth chart at receiver could go a number of different ways. At the top, London, Mooney, McCloud and Hodge are safe bets — but after them, there’s plenty of uncertainty.

Moore has been ascending throughout camp but has played predominantly with the third- and fourth-string players. The same is true for Casey Washington, who was selected in the sixth round of April’s draft. Still, they remain the favorites.

James Washington and Matthews were signed July 29 and have spent some time with the second-string offense, but it’s difficult to project them above Casey Washington and Moore.

The Falcons carried Ali and Blair on their practice squad last year, and Morris and the new staff may do the same this year. Mack, a 1,000-yard receiver in the Canadian Football League last season, has seen reps as a second-string player in camp.

Hiliare, who went undrafted out of Bowling Green State University this spring, is a practice squad candidate. He’s made a few impressive plays this summer and has a chance to stick around long-term.

Tight Ends (3)

On the team: Kyle Pitts, Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley

Practice squad: Austin Stogner

Cut: John FitzPatrick, Jordan Thomas

Pitts, Woerner and Dwelley have each enjoyed strong summers. Their spots on the roster appear safe.

Stogner, an undrafted rookie from the University of Oklahoma, drew praise from tight ends coach Kevin Koger on Wednesday for his ability to finish, and he seems like a prime practice squad piece. FitzPatrick may join — or unseat — him, though may be harder to keep.

Offensive Linemen (8)

On the team: Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary, Storm Norton, Kyle Hinton, Ryan Neuzil

Practice squad: Jovaughn Gwyn, Jaryd Jones-Smith, Barry Wesley

Cut: Julién Davenport, Andrew Stueber, John Leglue, Zack Bailey

In walkthroughs from OTAs to training camp, Atlanta has put eight offensive linemen on the warmup field with the first- and second-string players. No others have rotated over. The eight listed in the “on the team” category appear set.

With two swing interior linemen in Hinton and Neuzil making the team, the Falcons may carry just one — Gwyn, a seventh-round pick in 2023 — on the practice squad. Wesley was on Atlanta’s practice squad last season, and continuity with offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford may help him return to the spot once more.

Jones-Smith, who signed with Atlanta after spending the summer in the United Football League, is another practice squad piece. Davenport and Stueber are both NFL veterans who may find opportunities elsewhere.

Defensive Linemen (9)

On the team: Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata, James Smith-Williams, Zach Harrison, Ta’Quon Graham, Eddie Goldman, Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, Demone Harris

Practice squad: Zion Logue, LaCale London

Cut: Kentavius Street, Prince Emili, Tommy Togiai

Nine on the roster is extensive, but a few — like Smith-Williams and Harris — can double as outside linebackers. This is also a spot where Atlanta could go heavy, Morris said before the Falcons’ open practice Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

For as much has been made about Atlanta’s defensive front, it’s one of the deepest spots on the team. There are several tough cuts, and there is no guarantee Logue or London make it past waivers if they are released on cutdown day. Street is a capable player who should have suitors elsewhere.

Eight of the nine players projected to make the team — all but Dorlus — have played with the first-team defense in camp, and so has London. Dorlus, a fourth-round rookie, is a safe bet to make the roster.

The preseason will ultimately dictate lots here, but the Falcons have no shortage of options.

Outside Linebackers (3)

On the team: Lorenzo Carter, Arnold Ebiketie, Bralen Trice

Practice squad: DeAngelo Malone, Bradlee Anae

Cut: N/A

Carter, Ebiketie and Trice will be on the roster. Malone has received a few snaps with the starting defense at times in camp, but after playing just two defensive snaps last year, he entered the summer needing to prove himself to the new staff and hasn’t been much of a standout thus far.

Anae is an interesting piece, as Morris has spoken highly of him throughout the summer. Both he and Malone, who Fontenot mentioned as a potential pass rush piece Wednesday, feel like they may stick around Flowery Branch this summer.

Inside Linebackers (4)

On the team: Kaden Elliss, Nate Landman, Troy Andersen, J.D. Bertrand

Practice squad: Milo Eifler, Donavan Mutin

Cut: N/A

The quartet of Elliss, Landman, Andersen and Bertrand is set. The only question facing Morris and staff is who plays more between Landman and Andersen, which is, as Morris said during OTAs, a good problem to have.

Eifler and Mutin have rotated in competition for the fifth linebacker spot throughout camp and the Falcons may ultimately choose to carry just one on the practice squad. If they do, Eifler, who has made several stout plays in camp, is the current favorite.

Cornerbacks (6)

On the team: A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes, Dee Alford, Clark Phillips III, Antonio Hamilton, Anthony Johnson

Practice squad: Natrone Brooks

Cut: Kevin King, Jayden Price, Trey Vaval

Terrell, Hughes, Alford and Phillips will be on the roster, and Hamilton, a backup nickel who has taken a good step forward in camp, is trending in the right direction.

Johnson and King have alternated the second-string outside cornerback spot opposite Phillips throughout the past week, but Johnson may have a slight edge. It’s worth noting King hasn’t played football the past two years, though he has history with assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray from the 2020-21 seasons, when they were members of the Green Bay Packers.

Price and Vaval, a pair of undrafted rookies, have been third- and fourth-string players throughout the summer.

Safeties (4)

On the team: Jessie Bates III, Richie Grant, DeMarcco Hellams, Micah Abernathy

Practice squad: Luaks Denis

Cut: Dane Cruikshank, Tre Tarpley III

Bates, Grant and Hellams will be on the final roster, and Abernathy seems to have a stronghold on the fourth spot. Among the trio of Denis, Cruikshank and Tarpley, the former has seen the most work this summer and thus gets the practice squad nod.

Specialists (3)

On the team: Younghoe Koo (kicker), Bradley Pinion (punter), Liam McCullough (long snapper)

Practice squad: N/A

Cut: N/A

The Falcons started OTAs with four specialists — the above three and undrafted punter Ryan Sanborn — but released Sanborn on July 24, the day the team reported for training camp. Barring injuries, the trio of Koo, Pinion and McCullough will handle special teams responsibilities all season, as they did in 2023.

The Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans have already made one big trade this offseason when the Hawks sent guard Dejounte Murray to New Orleans for Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance, E.J Liddell, Cody Zeller, and two first-round picks.

After the trade though, it still feels like both teams are incomplete. The Hawks have done a nice job of restructuring things around Trae Young, but they could still use another playmaker next to him. While the Pelicans now have a point guard to lead the offense, they don’t have a starting caliber center.

There could be a potential three-team deal that makes these two teams better, while also helping a team that is in the midst of a long rebuild.

Portland is in an interesting spot right now. They are clearly not ready to challenge for the playoffs, but they have a weirdly constructed roster and some veterans that are good players such as Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton, and Anfernee Simons. There have been rumors surrounding Grant and Simons and it would not surprise anyone if one or both of them was traded.

It was reported by Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian on July 30th that the Blazers are likely to move one of Simons or forward Jerami Grant. During his appearance on Sactown Sports 1140, Fentress had this to say:

“I would be surprised if Jerami Grant or Anfernee Simons, if one of the two is not moved. I was told that that’s definitely the goal, that one of the two would probably be gone before training camp. Both being gone? That might be different. They obviously have time. They can wait until the trade deadline and see if someone else will offer more.”

With the Blazers drafting Donovan Clingan, that has them left with a crowded center room with Ayton, Clingan, and Robert Williams. It does not seem tenable for all three to remain on the team moving forward, with Clingan likely the center of the future.

What about a three-team trade that could benefit all three teams mentioned here?

It should be noted that this is just a speculative and fun exercise to see what kind of moves can be made, not what I think the Hawks should do or will do. That is all.

Here is the trade.

Atlanta Hawks receive: Brandon Ingram and Robert Williams

New Orleans Receives: Deandre Ayton

Portland Receives: Clint Capela, De’Andre Hunter, Garrison Matthews, 2026 1st round swap rights with Milwaukee (via New Orleans), and 2029 top eight protected 1st round pick (Via New Orleans)

Why Atlanta does this trade: Ingram would be a good fit with Trae Young and gives them a secondary shot creator with size. While Ingram does not shoot a lot of threes he would take some pressure off of Young and is a really good scorer. Williams is injured often, but is on a cheap deal and is one of the best defenders in the NBA when healthy. He could provide depth behind Onyeka Okongwu and bolster the Hawks’ defense when healthy. Atlanta stays under the luxury tax (barely) with this move. If Williams is not healthy, they still have Larry Nance to be the backup center. Hawks move off of De’Andre Hunter’s contract.

Why Atlanta does not do this trade: Ingram is up for a contract extension and he wants a max deal. There has been reporting that Atlanta is not interested in giving Ingram massive money. Could Atlanta try and get him to take a cheaper deal in the $175 or 180 Million range? That is the only reason I think Atlanta takes Ingram on. Williams is a huge health risk is well, even if he is on a cheap deal.

Why New Orleans does this trade: Ayton gives the Pelicans a starting center and one that flashes high-upside at times. While Ayton is on a big contract, he shows eilte ability from time-to-time. He could fit with Zion Williamson, Murray, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy to help New Orleans contend in the Western Conference. They still have plenty of picks for the future. They also stay under the luxury tax.

Why New Orleans does not do this trade: Ayton is an enigma of a player. He shows why he was the No. 1 pick in 2018, but he is not consistent and is paid a lot of money. Would New Orleans want to make an investment in someone who might not show up in the biggest moments and consistently throughout the season?

Why Portland does this: They move off of Ayton’s money and the draft picks. Capela can be a one year starter while Clingan comes along, Hunter becomes the best perimeter defender on the team and is still a young player who could help, and Matthews adds shooting. The picks are the big things coming back in the trade.

Why Portland does not do this trade: While Ayton makes a lot of money, he is a good player and this might not be the return Portland wants. I do think they benefit the most in this deal.

Is this deal likely? No. Atlanta has not shown the level of interest you would expect and there have not been many rumors surrounding Ayton. Still, Ingram helps Atlanta make a playoff push and without their own picks for the next three years, that would be big. New Orleans gets the starting center that they really need, and Portland gets more assets for the future.

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