NFC South Check-In, Post-Free Agency Rush: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have been busy in free agency, and their first move came before the market even opened when they placed a franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts. The fourth-overall pick in the 2021 draft, Pitts is coming off a season in which he set career highs in receptions (88) and touchdown catches (five) and fell just 72 yards shy of his second 1,000-yard campaign. Pitts can negotiate with other teams but the Falcons would retain a right of first refusal on any offer and would receive two first-round draft picks if he signed with another team. Atlanta and Pitts couldstill come to terms on a long-term deal, or he can sign the one-year tender offer of $16.3 million that comes with the tag.

The most noteworthy move the Falcons made once free agency began was also the most cost-effective. Atlanta signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he was released by Miami, and since the Dolphins are still on the hook for Tagovailoa’s $54 million salary for 2026, all the Falcons had to give him was the league minimum. Atlanta is dealing with the uncertainty of whether young passer Michael Penix will be ready for the start of the season following his November ACL tear, and notably Tagovailoa is left-handed, like Penix. Tagovailoa’s time in Miami ended ignominiously, but he threw for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns as recently as 2023.

Atlanta also brought in a brand-new kicking duo. With kicker Zane Gonzalez signing in Miami and punter Bradley Pinion a free agent, the team signed veteran kicker Nick Folk to a two-year deal and former Dolphins punter Jake Bailey to a three-year pact.

A number of Atlanta’s other moves in the early days of free agency mirrored roster losses, or anticipated losses, at the same positions. With edge rusher James Pearce’s availability rendered uncertain by multiple felony charges in South Florida, following his 10.5-sack rookie campaign, the Falcons signed edges Cam Thomas and Azeez Ojulari from the Browns and Eagles, respectively. Both got one-year deals. Atlanta also brought back a pair of their former pass-catchers in Patriots tight end Austin Hooper and Bears wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and added wide receiver Jahan Dotson, most recently of the Eagles. There were also a couple of depth signings on defense in Texans linebacker Christian Harris and Chargers’ defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand.

The Falcons needed to add another option at quarterback after the much-anticipated release of veteran Kirk Cousins. Atlanta designed Cousins as a post-June 1 cut to spread out the sizeable dead cap hit resulting from his release; the move actually created a couple millions worth of cap space in 2026. Edge rusher Leonard Floyd has not been re-signed and the team also released wide receivers KhaDarel Hodge and Darnell Mooney. Monney subsequently signed with the Giants. The Falcons did re-signed defensive tackle LaCale London, who had five sacks in 13games last year.

The first week of free agency proved to be a two-way street for the Falcons, as a handful of notable contributors found new jobs elsewhere in the NFL. Linebacker Kaden Elliss, who had 107 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2025, got the biggest deal, returning to his original team in New Orleans for three years and $33 million after three seasons with Atlanta. Other losses on defense included cornerback Dee Alford (two years and $15.75 million in Buffalo), defensive tackle David Onyemata (one year and $10.5 million with the Jets) and edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie (one year and $7.3 million in Philly). Onyemata and Elliss each started all 17 games in 2025 and Onyemata has started 47 of 51 games since signing with the Falcons in 2023.

Running back Tyler Allgeier, a productive complementary back for four seasons in Atlanta, left for a potentially larger role with the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year, $12.5 million deal. Allgeier scored a career-high eight rushing touchdowns in 2025. Guard Elijah Wilkinson ended up starting a career-high 17 games in 2025 after a season-ending injury to right tackle Kaleb McGary, but he is now moving on to Arizona on a two-year deal.

By winning their last four games in 2025 the Falcons finished the season as one of four non-playoff teams with 8-9 records. Of those four, they had the lowest strength of schedule figure (.495) and thus landed the first draft spot in that group, number 13 overall.

The Falcons will not be picking 13th in April, however. That’s because during last year’s draft they sent second and seventh-round picks plus a 2026 first-round selection to the Rams for pick number 26 and a third-rounder. Atlanta used that pick on Pearce, doubling up at the position after taking edge rusher Jalon Walker with their own pick at number 15.

In successive rounds, the Falcons’ pick rotates among that group of four, dropping to 16th in the second round, 15th in the third round and so on. That means the highest pick the team currently owns is number 48 in the second round. Atlanta has a total of five picks, comprised of its own selections in the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds. The team’s fifth-round pick went to Philadelphia as part of a trade up of five spots in the third round to land safety Xavier Watts.Atlanta is not projected to receive any compensatory picks.

Atlanta could be seeking pass-catching help in the 2026 draft. Drake London is the star of that group but he missed five games due to injury and finished third on the team with 68 receptions. Atlanta’s top two pass-catchers were a tight end (Pitts) and a running back (Bijan Robinson). After London, the wideout with the most receptions was Mooney, with 32, followed by David Sills, with 18. Some receivers who could be available in the middle of the second round are Alabama’s Germie Bernard, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion and Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell.

The Falcons drafted two edge rushers and two safeties last year and all four should be starting in 2026 so they have improved several areas of their defense with young talent. However, while improving its pass rush enormously, Atlanta still ranked 24th in the NFL against the run while allowing 4.61 yards per carry. With the possibility of an Onyemata departure in free agency, the Falcons might want to buttress their defensive front. They might be able to get Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter or Georgia’s Christen Miller in the second round.