Projecting the Falcons roster heading into the summer
The Falcons wrapped up their major offseason moves, with free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft behind us. While there are likely to be a few veteran additions sprinkled over the next few months, they aren’t likely to be earth-shattering maneuvers. For better or worse, Atlanta seems to be moving forward with a conservative, future-focused approach. Which, for the record, I agree with wholeheartedly. Despite the quieter approach to team-building to kick off the new regime, I think Atlanta has made significant strides in improving the depth and overall quality of the roster. While the starting talent has taken a step back, the roster itself is likely to be a lot more well-rounded. Whether this results in success or failure in the win column remains to be seen. All that being said, it’s time to take my first shot at predicting the Falcons eventual 53-man roster. As you’ll see below, some position groups have gone through pretty drastic transformations this offseason. Others have remained largely intact with one or two key additions. My initial takeaway is that I like the overall look of this team even if their ceiling is probably capped more than in previous seasons. The roster projection is also available in both video and audio format, which you can find embedded below. If you enjoyed the written version, consider giving us a click on these platforms as well. Listen to the audio version of this article using the player below, or find it on your favorite podcast platforms. Italics denote a change from the previous roster projection. Michael Penix Jr. Tua Tagovailoa Trevor Siemian The Falcons will be engaging in a full-on quarterback competition this summer. Much depends on Michael Penix Jr.’s health and return to play timeline heading into his third season. I think Penix still has a strong chance to win the job, and the team would probably prefer that outcome. It’s in everyone’s best interest to see Penix play, whether he ends up looking good or bad. If Penix isn’t healthy in time for training camp, it’ll be tough to for him to overtake veteran Tua Tagovailoa. Tua is a high-variance quarterback but has certainly put together some strong seasons, and it’s entirely possible he outplays Penix this summer and wins the job outright. While I’m intrigued by UDFA addition Jack Strand, he’s very much a developmental project. I can’t really see him overtaking steady veteran Trevor Siemian without a legendary training camp and preseason performance. Bijan Robinson Brian Robinson Jr . Nate Carter I think the Falcons will continue with a light running back room in 2026 despite the coaching changes. Bijan Robinson dominates touches to such a degree that a even the RB3 is unlikely to get snaps on a weekly basis. Brian Robinson Jr. is a solid Tyler Allgeier replacement who can handle a similar role, although I’m not expecting him to be quite as effective. I still believe in Nate Carter, who brings a speed element to Atlanta’s run game that the rest of the group lacks. He’ll face stiff competition from veteran Tyler Goodson , former UDFA Carlos Washington Jr., and new UDFA Cash Jones. Kyle Pitts Charlie Woerner Austin Hooper Brandon Frazier Editor’s Note: This roster projection was written prior to a series of roster moves. I’m leaving in my thoughts on TE Brandon Frazier so you can all enjoy how wrong I was. Atlanta kept their top two tight ends from 2025, with a long-term extension possibly looming for Kyle Pitts and Charlie Woerner retained despite a high salary cost. The team also brought back Austin Hooper, who can provide a veteran presence with solid blocking and receiving in 13 personnel. I’m guessing blocking will be a bigger emphasis with this coaching staff, and UDFA Brandon Frazier could stake his claim to the roster with a strong training camp performance. Drake London Jahan Dotson Zachariah Branch Olamide Zaccheaus Chris Blair With tight end likely to have a larger presence, I expect Atlanta’s wide receivers to take on a [... truncated ...]
