With the NFL offseason almost wrapped up and training camp coming to a close soon, it’s a good time to take a look at each NFL team’s offseason recap as we get just a few weeks away from the start of the regular season. Let’s take a look at the Atlanta Falcons’ new team and analyze the team’s incoming and outgoing players as they shape up for the 2026 season.

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons had an interesting offseason, keeping a large chunk of their core roster but mainly changing the most at the top with their front office, as they hired new head coach Kevin Stefanski and Ian Cunningham as general manager. Stefanski has a proven track record as a head coach and will be looking to make the most of the Falcons’ potent and exciting offense after finishing the 2025 season with an 8-9 record.

Incoming Players:

One of the biggest free agent offseason signings for the Falcons was that of Tua Tagovailoa on a one-year contract. The former 2020 first-round pick is coming off of six seasons in Miami where Tua showed immense promise at times and also had underwhelming performances, prompting the Dolphins to hit the rebuild button entering 2026. Tagovailoa certainly has the talent to start in the NFL, but injuries in recent seasons have hurt his stock and numbers, leading to him getting a fresh start with the Falcons. Tagovailoa is currently amidst a quarterback battle with Michael Penix Jr., and the Falcons have yet to announce who their starter will be come Week 1.

The Falcons also signed three playmakers on offense in Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and Brian Robinson to new deals in free agency. Dotson signed a two-year, $15 million deal after spending the 2025 season with the Eagles, where he had 18 receptions for 262 yards and a touchdown. Zaccheaus will be returning to Atlanta after spending the first four years of his career with the team from 2019-2022. Zaccheaus caught 39 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns with the Bears last season.

And lastly, Robinson signed a one-year deal with Atlanta after spending the 2025 season with the 49ers and rushing for 400 yards and two touchdowns. The additions of Dotson, Zaccheaus and Robinson will all help replace the losses of Tyler Allgeier and Darnell Mooney. The Falcons also made it a large focus to retain their core playmakers on offense, re-signing stars Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts to new extensions over the offseason.

Outgoing Players:

Quarterback Kirk Cousins was a big offseason departure for the Falcons as he was released with a post-June 1 designation after two seasons in Atlanta. In his two seasons with the team, Cousins totaled 5,229 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions but was never able to lead the Falcons into contention. Cousins signed a one-year, $20 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency.

Darnell Mooney was also released in free agency and signed with the New York Giants in free agency. Mooney was a productive receiver for the Falcons in his two years with the team where he had a total of 1,435 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

The Falcons also lost some defensive starters in Leonard Floyd, Kaden Elliss and David Onyemata. Floyd is still an unsigned free agent after spending a sole season with the Falcons last year where he had 3.5 sacks in 15 games. Onyemata was a big part of the Falcons’ defensive line for the past three seasons and left in free agency to sign a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Jets. The loss of Elliss may be the biggest defensive loss for Atlanta as he was one of the team’s most versatile players and racked up 100+ total tackles in his three seasons in Atlanta.

NFL Draft:

The Falcons didn’t have a 2026 first-round pick but made a total of six selections in the draft. Avieon Terrell was the Falcons’ first selection with the No. 48 overall pick, and it made for one of the most wild selections in the draft as he’ll be paired and developed alongside his brother A.J. Terrell.

The Falcons selected Zachariah Branch in the third round with the No. 79 overall pick, and he could be one of the more underrated picks in this year’s draft. Branch is an explosive athlete who ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine and could contribute as a receiver and return specialist. He gives Kevin Stefanski another dangerous weapon to use alongside Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson.

Recap:

The Falcons have always had talented rosters in recent years, especially on offense, but have struggled to get the most out of their roster, last making the playoffs in the 2017 season. The hiring of Kevin Stefanski, who has a solid track record as a coach with the Browns and was responsible for bringing the Browns back into contention, shows that the Falcons want a steady presence leading their franchise and someone who can get the most out of his roster.

The biggest question for the Falcons entering the new season is their leader at quarterback. Just a few days out from Week 1 and the Falcons haven’t announced whether their starter is Tagovailoa or Penix. And despite having a litany of weapons in Robinson, London, Pitts and more, the team can succeed only as much as their quarterback does, whoever it is.

The defense also lost numerous veterans and has a bit of a hole in their pass-rushing unit. Despite some important losses on defense, their talented and quick-scoring offense can more than make up for it, but it’ll be key to see how Stefanski can rally his roster in Year 1. With multiple game-breakers on offense for Atlanta, the playoffs are always in reach, but Stefanski will need a reliable presence at quarterback to bring the Falcons back to the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

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