RSS Falcons Team Notes

[Atlanta Falcons]

Vote for the best Falcons returner from 2000-2025

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 19: Allen Rossum #20 of the Atlanta Falcons runs with the ball during a game against the Baltimore Ravens on November 19, 2006 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images

Matt Bryant crushed Younghoe Koo in the competition for best Falcons kicker of the past quarter century—obviously—and Matt Bosher handily won the punter gig. Now it’s time to close out our specialists voting—no, we are not litigating long snapper and Josh Harris’s role there—with returner.

Honorable mentions go to Devin Hester—an all-time returner, but one who only spent two years in Atlanta—and Darrick Vaughn, who scored a bonkers four kick return touchdowns but also just spent two years on returns. Avery Williams also had a couple of really nice seasons there, but again, we’re rewarding excellence and longevity here. Jerious Norwood, Cordarrelle Patterson, and even Jacquizz Rodgers are not included here because they didn’t do both kick and punt returns. I also set the minimum number of returns on the all-time leaderboard at 30 for the purposes of rankings.

We’ll choose two returners here, so there many not be a lot of intrigue in terms of who makes it. Let’s decide the top option, though!

Allen Rossum​

The raw stats: 250 kick returns (1st), 5,489 kick return yards (1st), 1 kick return TD (T-4th), 22 yards per kick return (20th), 154 punt returns (1st), 1,723 punt return yards (1st), 2 punt return TDs (T-1st), 11.2 yards per punt return (3rd)

Rossum has a very credible case as the team’s best returner ever. Only Deion Sanders (5), Darrick Vaughn (4), and Tim Dwight (3) have as many combined scores as a returner, and Rossum has both the top volume numbers in team history and some of the better rate numbers. He’s only outside the top five in yards per kick return, where he’s handily bested by the next guy on our list.

There are some non-Falcons highlights in here, but you can really get a feel for what made him an excellent returner: A combination of excellent vision, real patience and breakaway speed when he needed to use it. Returners fall out of peoples’ memories pretty quickly unless they’re Hall of Famer caliber players, but Rossum was awesome.

Eric Weems​

The raw stats: 147 kick returns (T-2nd), 3,724 kick return yards (2nd), 1 kick return TD (T-4th), 25.3 yards per kick return (4th), 120 punt returns (3rd), 1,309 punt return yards (2nd), 1 punt return TD (T-4th), 10.9 yards per punt return (4th)

Weems is one of the more underrated Falcons of the past three decades, remembered perhaps as fondly for his role in Michael Turner’s toss as his work as a special teamer. He was an occasionally useful receiver, a relentless special teamer in coverage when called upon, and a talented and efficient returner. His long tenure with the team and lack of flash despite his fine work meant he fell in and out of favor with Falcons fans over the years, but his numbers speak for themselves. Weems was one of the best returners in team history.

Is he better than Rossum? He doesn’t have the raw volume on kick returns that Rossum did or the same number of scores, but he was nearly as good on a per return basis on punts and clearly superior on kicks. I’ll leave that vote to you.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...turner-from-2000-2025-allen-rossum-eric-weems

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons free agency preview ft. Joe Patrick: Falcoholic Live, Ep366

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 11: Kaden Elliss #55 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates after a sack during the first quarter of the NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

NFL free agency is just a week away, and the Falcons have a number of impending free agents to consider. Kevin Knight is joined by Joe Patrick to break down Atlanta’s free agent list, including potential re-signings, top targets on the open market, and potential surprise cuts to watch for over the coming days. Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of The Falcoholic Live!

Watch the stream below or on YouTube​

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You can watch the show here on The Falcoholic, but we recommend watching on YouTube for the best experience—including full 1080p HD video and access to the live Q&A in the chat. You can also access the show using your smart TV or device using the YouTube app for the real big-screen experience!

We hope you enjoy the show! If you have comments, we’d love to hear them. Send them to us on Twitter (@FalcoholicLive), leave them below, or e-mail the show at [email protected].

Thanks for watching!

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...-preview-ft-joe-patrick-falcoholic-live-ep366

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons will reportedly cut WR Darnell Mooney

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 11: Darnell Mooney #1 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on from the field during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Falcons are going to have a drastically different wide receiver depth chart in 2026. The team already cut ties with KhaDarel Hodge, and now they’re reportedly about to cut Darnell Mooney loose as well.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport is among those who say the team is planning to release Mooney after a disappointing, injury-marred 2025 season. That release will leave Drake London as the only established high-end receiver left, making it a virtual certainty Atlanta will be active in both free agency and the draft to improve the roster.

The #Falcons are planning to release WR Darnell Mooney, sources say, with Mooney set to count $18.4M against the salary cap.

Mooney, still just 28, has averaged better than 13 yards per catch in each of the last three seasons. pic.twitter.com/HwVyFwJ7AJ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2026

Mooney’s ballooning cap hit in 2026 always made it likely he’d be a cap casualty, but he was supposed to help lift the Falcons to the playoffs in 2024 and 2025. Instead, he turned in a great season in a doomed year with Kirk Cousins’ fade and the defensive collapse in 2024, with 64 receptions for 992 yards and five touchdowns. He followed that up by breaking his collarbone in the summer of 2025—something the team hid—and battling various ailments, rust, and simple ineffectiveness as he managed just 32 receptions for 443 yards and a touchdown last season. Like many of Atlanta’s moves over the past two seasons, this one didn’t work out. Given his brilliant 2024 and the team’s mismanagement of his injury, it’s easy and fair to blame the Falcons more than the player for that outcome.

If he’s fully healthy, it goes without saying that Mooney will land a nice deal elsewhere and has a chance to thrive again. He’s a big-time deep threat when he’s rolling and will be 29 this year, and some team is likely to hand him a solid short-term deal to see if he can regain his 2024 form and be a high-end WR2. I wouldn’t bet against him, personally.

It’s not yet clear whether the Falcons will designate Mooney as a post-June 1 cut, allowing them to spread out their dead money more evenly, or will take a bigger hit this year to be done with it. If they elect to cut him without that designation, Mooney will carry $11 million in dead money against the cap and will give the Falcons about $7.4 million in savings; if it’s post-June 1, that will be $6.5 million in dead money and $11.9 million in savings.

With Mooney gone, the Falcons have some big decisions to make at receiver; the franchise tag on Kyle Pitts takes care of one major target but Atlanta can’t go into the year with the cupboard this bare. London is fantastic and Casey Washington might be able to contribute as a high-end reserve in a new offense, but that’s about all Atlanta has. We wish Mooney well wherever he lands, and hope the Falcons receiver depth chart in 2026 will be an asset rather than a liability.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...reportedly-cut-wr-darnell-mooney-drake-london

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons will not tender DL Sam Roberts

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 2: Sam Roberts #99 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on following an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Darnell Mooney was the first domino to fall Thursday, but not the last. The Atlanta Falcons have elected to let Sam Roberts test the open market as an unrestricted free agent, a wise move given the 2026 RFA (restricted free agent) tender price.

Roberts was added to the roster just before the season began. He was previously a member of the Carolina Panthers. He flew under the radar the first few weeks of the season, hitting the inactive list presumably because he was still getting acclimated to his new role and playbook.

However, once Roberts finally saw action against the Buffalo Bills, it was easy to see why the team felt he was worth making room for on the roster. Roberts primarily functioned as a 1T (nose tackle), which was one of the few holes the team had on its defensive line last year. Roberts filled that hole nicely. He’s a large human, checking in at 6’5” and 300lbs.

Eating and splitting doubles with little issue, dominating the center in most of his 1-on-1s. I mean, this is good stuff. Would love to see Sam Roberts stay elevated https://t.co/CF4d4lEgC0 pic.twitter.com/8SsT8rShsN

— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) October 15, 2025

He showed the ability to be a penetrating nose tackle in this scheme, consistently blowing up doubles and getting into the backfield. He’s someone that the team should bring back, so why didn’t they tender him?

Nose tackles are undervalued in this league, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get one, which is how Roberts ended up in Atlanta in the first place. It’s another common sense, well calculated decision by the Falcons new GM, Ian Cunningham.

Cunningham is betting they can sign Roberts for less than the tender ($3.5M) or find another nose tackle of his caliber below that range, and it’s a good bet to make.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlanta-falcons-roster/92100/falcons-will-not-tender-dl-sam-roberts

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

2026 Falcons schedule: Team will host game in Madrid, Spain

A general view shows the Santiago Bernabeu stadium before the NFL match between Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on November 16, 2025. (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP) (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

The Atlanta Falcons are headed back to Europe in 2026, and this time, they’ll be playing a game in Spain.

The Falcons are going to Madrid this fall.

Rafa de los Santos: "The passion for the NFL in Spain is at an all‑time high, and welcoming the Atlanta Falcons to Madrid for a regular‑season game is a historic moment for our growing fanbase."https://t.co/R1QhVmb8mD

— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) March 3, 2026

Considered the home team for the game—please note that the opponent and schedule have not been made official yet—the Falcons will play in Europe for the second straight season and may well become a fixture abroad. The team is 1-3 abroad all-time, with one win against the Jets in London in 2021 and losses to the Lions in 2014 in London, Jaguars in London in 2023, and Colts in Germany last year.

Losing a home game to go abroad is not ideal, but the Falcons have also not been spectacular back home at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and international games are only going to grow with the NFL putting its weight behind playing elsewhere, so it’s not really worth lamenting any longer. It should be an extremely cool atmosphere for a game, and if the Falcons can put on a better show than the 16-13 snoozefest the Commanders and Dolphins managed in Madrid in 2025, it can only help the game grow there.

True Fan Travel has a package if you’re interested in going, so be sure to check that out.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...-schedule-team-will-host-game-in-madrid-spain

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons mock draft 2026: Taking stock after the NFL Combine

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Malachi Lawrence of the Central Florida Knights participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 NFL Combine concluded last weekend with one of the most athletic groups on record. Testing and analytics are more important to teams than ever in this era, although we don’t yet know how critical that will be for the new Falcons regime of Matt Ryan, Kevin Stefanski, and Ian Cunningham.

With the Combine data now in the books, this is the perfect opportunity to take a look at how things have changed in the 2026 NFL Draft class. I’ll take you through a full seven-round mock draft for Atlanta, this time with no trades allowed, to see how the board had shifted following the workouts in Indianapolis.

Before we jump in to the mock, let’s take a look at the Falcons’ current haul of draft picks.

What are the Falcons current draft picks?​

• Round 2, Pick 48
• Round 3, Pick 79
• Round 4, Pick 114
• Round 6, Pick 196
• Round 7, Pick 231

This is the written version, but you can also find the mock draft in two alternate forms as well. On our YouTube channel:

The mock is also available on all your favorite podcast platforms! You can listen to it directly here:

Round 2, Pick 48: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF

To say that the arrest of star rookie James Pearce Jr. has thrown a wrench into the Falcons plans for the edge rusher room would be a massive understatement. We’ll see how that ultimately plays out, but the team would be wise to operate as if Pearce was unavailable for the foreseeable future. That means edge rockets back to the top of needs list, particularly with multiple free agents hitting the market. Jalon Walker will likely handle one of the starting spots, but the room still needs a lot of work.

I was hoping UCF legend Malachi Lawrence would stay under the radar and be a potential third-round option, but his impressive Combine has ended those hopes. That being said, Lawrence is definitely a worthy second round pick. He’s got an ideal frame (6’4, 253) with good length and explosiveness, checking the boxes you need to see. Lawrence is an advanced rusher with a number of moves and good hand usage, making his pathway to early playing time clear. He needs to improve his run defense and gap discipline, but all the tools are there for a quality NFL starter.

Round 3, Pick 79: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

This is a deep receiver class on Day 2. Someone will fall to the Falcons in the third round, which is why I’m in favor of going elsewhere with the second rounder. In this scenario, it was Tennessee speedster Chris Brazzell II, who posted a blazing 4.37s 40 at the Combine. Brazzell is best known for his field-stretching ability, but there’s more nuance to his game than you might expect. Tennessee’s offense does make it a little challenging to evaluate receivers for the NFL, but Brazzell clearly has translatable talent.

Brazzell is a big-bodied outside receiver at 6’5, 200 who dominates down the field. He’s a threat on every single play and will demand the attention of safeties, opening up the offense for Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. I really appreciated the growth from Brazzell in terms of his route tree and technique this season, and think he’s more than just a deep threat. He hasn’t been tested against press and will likely struggle there early in his career, and I’d like to see him perform better in contested catch situations. Still, Brazzell offers WR2 upside in an aggressive downfield passing attack like what Atlanta could turn to with Penix at the helm.

Round 4, Pick 114: DT DeMonte Capehart, Clemson

The Falcons are going young on the defensive line with Brandon Dorlus, Zach Harrison, and Ruke Orhorhoro, but they still don’t have a run-stuffing specialist in the middle. Luckily, this is a deep class, and someone is likely to fall into the early Day 3 range. Atlanta has already shown interest in Clemson defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, who had a tremendous workout at the NFL Combine and vaulted himself into the fourth round conversation.

Capehart is a physical interior defender with terrific size (6’5, 313, nearly 34” arms) and better-than-expected athleticism. At the moment his game is predicated on strength and effort, and that works well against the run. He’s a very unrefined pass rusher who primarily relies on a bull rush, but his traits give up upside to eventually become a more impactful player on passing downs. This is exactly the type of player the Falcons have collected on the defensive line over the past several years, and I’m guessing they’ll continue to lean on Nate Ollie’s talent for coaching up athletes.

Round 6, Pick 196: CB Jadon Canady, Oregon

The Falcons will need to figure out the slot cornerback position until Billy Bowman returns from injury. Perhaps Dee Alford is re-signed, but even if that happens, Atlanta could use more depth in the secondary. Oregon’s Jadon Canady is a slot-only prospect given his size (5’11, 180), but his tape is a lot better than you’d expect for someone in this range of the draft.

Canady put together a strong senior season with just 17 receptions allowed (1 TD) on 37 targets, good for a passer rating of just 39.4. He notched two interceptions and six PBUs, showing off some ballhawking ability. He’s a willing tackler in run support, but his size limits his upside in that area. Canady’s coverage instincts are outstanding and he can operate in both man and zone coverage. His limitations might keep him from becoming an NFL starter, but he’ll be a reliable backup who can boost a team’s coverage.

Round 7, Pick 231: TE Riley Nowakowski, Indiana

The Falcons made the decision to franchise tag tight end Kyle Pitts, which gives the team a top receiving target at the position (for now, anyway). Other decisions could be made in the coming days with regards to the other tight ends on the roster, most notably Charlie Woerner. His release could save Atlanta $4.75M in cap space, which is pretty significant for a blocking specialist.

If the team moves on from Woerner, they’ll need at least one more capable blocker on the roster. My guess is an affordable veteran is added alongside a draft pick, and one of my favorites is Indiana’s Riley Nowakowski. Nowakowski is a phenomenal and experienced blocker who punches above his size (6’2, 250) in both the run and pass game. He also added some receiving production to his game in 2025, showing off reliable hands and fearlessness over the middle. Nowakowski is a great value add in this draft and could eventually cement himself as a better-than-expected TE2 in Atlanta.

What do you think about this potential draft class for the Falcons? Leave your draft takes in the comments below!

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...draft-2026-taking-stock-after-the-nfl-combine

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Atlanta Falcons free agency 2026

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 16: The Falcons are wearing the throwback red helmets for the NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers on October 16, 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Free agency is set to begin. Legal tampering kicks off tomorrow at noon eastern time, and teams can make outside signings official at 4 p.m. on Wednesday when the new league year officially starts. It’s a busy, heady period for every NFL team.

Will it be a transformative one for the Falcons? Probably not, given their limited dollars, long list of free agents, and how competitive the market is going to be. Nonetheless, we should expect our Falcons to be active even if the big swings are limited, with a focus on shoring up key positions like quarterback, wide receiver, inside linebacker, cornerback, and depth across the roster. There is much to be done before the draft just for us to feel like this team can tread water, after all.

We’ll track the action here in the hours and days ahead, so keep it open among your many dozens of tabs and let’s get rolling.

Signings and news​

Signings​

TE Kyle Pitts​

The talented tight end had something of a breakout season in 2025, and was franchise tagged as a result. Unless the Falcons find a trade partner, expect them to hammer out a long-term deal with Pitts sometime in 2026.

Check back frequently for updates! We hope!

News​

Falcons set to cut Darnell Mooney​

One of the splashes of the 2024 offseason is on his way out. The Falcons will reportedly cut Darnell Mooney soon, with the only real question left to answer concerning whether it’s a post-June 1 designation or not. That will impact how much money the Falcons save in the here and now.

Mooney had one terrific season in 2024 and one injury-marred, forgettable campaign in 2025, but should have little trouble landing a job elsewhere.

Falcons will cut Kirk Cousins, designate as a post-June 1 cut​

The least surprising news of the offseason, especially after the Falcons restructured Cousins’ deal to create a poison pill situation for themselves if he isn’t cut. The move gave Atlanta the cap space they needed to franchise tag Kyle Pitts and make a handful of moves early in free agency, but if they don’t release him before March 13, they’ll eat nearly $70 million in dead money next year. That’s not going to happen, so the official cut should be coming soon.

The Falcons will now be shopping for another veteran quarterback to pair with Michael Penix Jr.

Falcons decline to tender Sam Roberts, Malik Heath​

The Falcons scooped up Heath late last year after the Packers cut him, but he never saw any action. The new regime apparently doesn’t think he’ll crack their new-look depth chart, which is currently looking pretty barren.

Roberts was poached off the Panthers practice squad and looked like an effective run stopper until he got hurt. The Falcons may try to sign him back at a lower price point.

Falcons free agents​

Bolded players have signed elsewhere; bolded and italicized players have returned to the Falcons.

Unrestricted free agents​

QB Easton Stick

RB Tyler Allgeier

TE Kyle Pitts (Franchise tagged)

TE Teagan Quitoriano

TE Feleipe Franks

T/G Elijah Wilkinson

DL David Onyemata

DL Kentavius Street

EDGE Arnold Ebiketie

EDGE Leonard Floyd

EDGE Khalid Kareem

EDGE/ILB DeAngelo Malone

ILB Kaden Elliss

ILB Troy Andersen

ILB Josh Woods

ILB/S Ronnie Harrison

CB Dee Alford

K Zane Gonzalez

P Bradley Pinion

OT Ryan Hayes (Titans)

Restricted free agents​

WR Malik Heath (not tendered)

WR David Sills

C/G Jovaughn Gwyn

DL LaCale London

DL Sam Roberts (not tendered)

Exclusive rights free agents​

QB Emory Jones (Waived)

OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

DL Elijah Garcia

CB Natrone Brooks

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...ns-free-agency-2026-kaden-elliss-kirk-cousins

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Atlanta Falcons free agency: 5 areas of focus in 2026

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 29: Atlanta linebacker Kaden Elliss (55) reacts during the NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons on December 29th, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

We don’t yet know whether the Falcons are planning to make a significant push for the NFC South title in 2026, or whether they hope to build a solid team with an eye on having more resources and making more of a push in 2027. Either way, though, fielding a competitive football team this coming season is going to involve dipping toes in free agency, and I know the Falcons want to put a winning team on the field regardless of how high their expectations might be.

In order to ensure 2026 is not a total loss, a team with limited draft capital has to accomplish a few things in free agency. Here’s five items I believe the Falcons have to cross off in free agency, starting this week, to avoid next season looking a lot like the eight that came before it.

A starting receiver​

Right now, the Falcons have a handful of receivers under contract: The great Drake London, and then Casey Washington, Dylan Drummond, Deven Thompkins, and Chris Blair. Washington hasn’t shown us much in two seasons in Atlanta and has dealt with injuries, Drummond was a summer standout who looked occasionally capable in limited action, and Thompkins interests me more as a returner option than a receiver. While I like Blair, he’s chiefly spent time on the practice squad thus far.

The point is that there’s one starter and maybe a couple of guys you carry as deep reserves on the active roster, plus practice squad candidates. While the draft is almost certain to bring at least one more option to the group, the Falcons need a starting-caliber veteran pretty badly with Darnell Mooney out. Ideally they’d add speed to this group.

Options: Wan’Dale Robinson, Romeo Doubs, Jauan Jennings, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Hollywood Brown, Rashid Shaheed, Christian Kirk

A starting inside linebacker​

The Falcons could just bring back Kaden Elliss to pair with Divine Deablo again, as that pairing was super effective when healthy. But thus far, general manager Ian Cunningham has indicated the Falcons are going to let Elliss test the market, and that market ought to be robust.

Atlanta should look for a veteran starter for a couple of reasons. The first is that while rookies can shine and the Falcons could use youth at the position, your average first-year inside linebacker is going is going to scuffle a bit. Given their draft capital, they’re more likely to get a potential future starter than a clear-cut one. The second reason is that this is a pretty terrific class, with a lot of established starters set to hit free agency and quite a few high-end options, including Elliss. Given how critical the position group is for Jeff Ulbrich and company, it’s important to get this signing right.

Options: Kaden Elliss, Tremaine Edmunds, Leo Chenal, Quay Walker, Bobby Okereke, Lavonte David, Demario Davis, Quincy Williams

EDGE help​

This is like the receiver group, in that the situation gets dire after the top option. Right now, your only options under contract are Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., and Pearce is likely heading for some sort of 2026 suspension after his arrest earlier this year. Walker looks like an excellent player and Pearce is obviously an incredible talent if/when he plays for the Falcons in 2026, but that does not an edge group make.

The Falcons just don’t have the draft-based ammunition to reload here without free agency, so I’d expect 2-3 veteran signings. That number will likely depend on what the Falcons think they’re going to get out of Pearce in 2026, if anything, and how deep they want their rotation to be. Given that Ulbrich and defensive line coach Nate Ollie are back, I’d expect them to prioritize a group that’s heavier on options than high-end talent, especially with their relatively limited dollars.

Options: Trey Hendrickson, Jaelen Phillips, Haason Reddick, Joey Bosa, Arnold Ebiketie, Leonard Floyd, Arden Key, Samson Ebukam, Cam Jordan, Charles Omenihu, Kwity Paye, Dante Fowler Jr., David Ojabo, Payton Turner

A veteran quarterback​

We’ve discussed this to death so I won’t belabor the point, but the Falcons are not going to head into the 2026 season with just Michael Penix Jr. and a rookie quarterback. They’ll need to invest in a quarterback they believe can start games for them and at least do so competently, given the uncertainty around Penix’s return timetable. The team has also not committed to Penix as their starter even when he is healthy, though I expect him to get his shot.

There aren’t a ton of inspiring options out there, but the market got a shot in the arm when Kyler Murray was released. The Falcons need a starting-caliber player as insurance, regardless, and there aren’t a ton out there that inspire much confidence.

Options: Kyler Murray, Malik Willis, Joe Flacco, Gardner Minshew, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Marcus Mariota, Trey Lance, Mitch Trubisky

Depth​

Almost across the board, the Falcons are hurting for depth. That doesn’t make them any different than any other NFL team—especially with the influx of talent hitting the market this week—but a lack of depth was a notable cause of the team’s struggles in several of the past eight losing seasons. The 2025 campaign was definitely one of them, as the team’s lack of development and investment in their depth at wide receiver, inside linebacker, cornerback (minus Dee Alford!), and other positions came back to bite them.

Again, the Falcons will probably try to ensure they have more than five picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but can’t count on filling the bulk of their depth chart with picks and undrafted players. Investing in promising younger free agents and hyper-reliable veterans will be key to making sure the team can weather adversity better in 2026 than they have of late.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...as-of-focus-in-2026-kaden-elliss-drake-london

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons free agency 2026: Team set to sign ex-Browns DE Cameron Thomas

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Cameron Thomas #99 of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Huntington Bank Field on November 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Falcons have a reported flurry of signings on offense (QB Tua Tagovailoa likely, WRs Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus, TE Austin Hooper) and special teams (K Nick Folk, P Jake Bailey), but hadn’t touched defense yet. That all changed with the signing of Cameron Thomas.

That last statement probably landed less dramatically than intended because you had to Google Cameron Thomas. The soon-to-be 26-year-old defensive end began his career with Arizona, stopped off with Kansas City, and spent the last 1.5 seasons with the Browns and Kevin Stefanski. He’s a depth signing for this defensive front, one who will likely play a similar role to Zach Harrison as an inside/outside guy who will likely be more impactful outside.

The #Falcons are signing former Browns DE Cameron Thomas to a one-year, $3.1 million deal, per @AdamSchefter. Stefanski bringing in one of his guys from Cleveland.

— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) March 9, 2026

The good news? He seems like a quality depth signing. Still young, Thomas has played on a limited basis throughout his career but has consistently shown well against the run and has contributed better pressure numbers than his meager 7.5 career sacks would indicate. He posted 2.5 sacks and 13 pressures last year in just over 300 defensive snaps, and was not credit with a single missed tackle on the season.

I’m not expecting him to take on a huge role in Atlanta, but as a well-rounded, affordable enough option, he’s a welcome signing for a team that could always use more solid players on their defensive front. Atlanta just saw David Onyemata sign with the Jets earlier today, after all.

Give Thomas a warm welcome, and hopefully he can take his career to new heights with the Falcons.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...-team-set-to-sign-ex-browns-de-cameron-thomas

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons free agency 2026: Atlanta to sign former Texans LB Christian Harris

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 27: Christian Harris #48 of the Houston Texans lines up for the play during the third quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Falcons have been quite busy during the opening salvo of legal tampering, with most of their reported/not yet official signings landing on the offensive side of the ball. That doesn’t mean they’ve ignored defense, however.

Both of their signings thus far have been young players with some starting experience who look like rotational players or backups on this defense, and you won’t see me sneering at that given the shaky state of hte team’s depth. They’ll need to do more than that—replacing David Onyemata and Dee Alford is not going to be easy, necessarily—but it’s a start. Signing Cameron Thomas will be counted upon to help out on the defensive front, but the second signing is aimed at improving Atlanta’s woeful inside linebacker depth.

That signing would be Christian Harris, formerly of the Texans, and the news comes to us from NFL insider Cameron Wolfe.

Falcons have agreed to terms with former Texans LB Christian Harris, per source. pic.twitter.com/j7t2t2NF7G

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 9, 2026

Harris was a full-time starter his first couple of years in Houston, but was gradually pushed into a backup role by a combination of injury and inconsistent play; all but three games of his 2024 season were wiped out by injury and he never regained a starting job in 2025. Our own Kevin Knight liked his athleticism, coverage ability, and upside back in 2022 when he was entering the draft, but was not a fan of his run defense and spotty tackling. The athleticism and coverage ability is there, but Harris has not been able to deliver on his considerable promise to this point. He was decent in his very limited looks in 2025, however.

The Falcons, who just rolled the dice on Divine Deablo next year betting his traits would allow him to excel in Jeff Ulbrich’s defense, are undoubtedly making a similar bet with Harris. There’s little question that Harris has not been as good thus far in his career as Deablo was with the Raiders, and he does not have the combination of length and instincts that made Deablo so good for the Falcons in 2025. But what Harris does bring to the table is youth, some real promise, and likely a very affordable contract, and even if he tops out as a useful reserve he’ll prove to be an upgrade over what the Falcons got out of the likes of JD Bertrand in 2025. If he becomes more than that, awesome, but even as a backup he’s an interesting addition.

Whether he will may depend on the opportunity available to him in 2026. Kaden Elliss has not been re-signed, while a restructured Troy Andersen is no lock to play and/or play well this year given that injury continues to be his constant companion. If the Falcons don’t make any big moves, we’ll know what their expectations for Harris are.

Give Harris a warm welcome, and let’s hope he’s a quality piece of a quality inside linebacker group in 2026.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...rmer-texans-lb-christian-harris-divine-deablo

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Why the Falcons are signing QB Tua Tagovailoa

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins warms up before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Falcons were persistently linked to Tua Tagovailoa well before we knew the Miami Dolphins were going to release him. The thought of trading for Tua’s giant contract made me physically ill, especially with his history of concussions and lackluster 2025 season. But the Falcons, who were also linked to Joe Flacco, waited out the Dolphins and got Tua for the low, low cost of $1.3 million and zero draft compensation.

I’ll be clear: I don’t love signing Tu at all, but at the price point it’s absolutely worthwhile for the Falcons to find out how much his struggles were due to the quarterback he is today and how much of it was a rapidly deteriorating Dolphins team. The question, of course, is why the Falcons thought Tua was a worthwhile target and whether he’ll be able to deliver as competition for Michael Penix Jr. and/or the team’s starting quarterback.

Let’s answer those questions and more to the best of our abilities.

What is Tua’s reported contract?​

Because the Dolphins signed him to a mega extension and cut him in the heart of that extension, they are on the hook for an insane amount of dead money. It’s $99.2 million, to be exact, and because he’s getting that money from Miami, any team signing him can do so cheaply and simply offset a small portion of what he’s owed. That’s why the Falcons are able to get Tua for one year and $1.3 million. He is objectively worth a lot more than that, regardless of what you think of his abilities.

The one-year deal carries perks for both sides. Tua gets to work with a well-regarded offensive mind in Kevin Stefanski, has Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts to throw to, and a capable offensive line to work behind to rehabilitate his value and try to hit the market in 2027 when the draft is strong but the most interesting free agent quarterbacks are set to be an ancient Matthew Stafford, Deshaun Watson, maybe Daniel Jones, and Baker Mayfield. That’s not a terrible situation for him, and it’s certainly not for the Falcons, who get an experienced starting quarterback for one year and very, very little money. They’re not tied to Tua at all if he falters.

One final note: This is legal tampering, so technically nothing is final yet. I add that caveat on the off chance something goes sideways between now and Wednesday.

Why would Tua join the Falcons?​

I outlined a couple reasons above, but the reality is that Tua probably did not have a single landing spot outside of maybe the Jets where he would have been the unquestioned starter. Atlanta offers a clearer path to playing time with Michael Penix Jr. recovering from a major injury and with a new regime that is not necessarily married to the young quarterback, giving Tua a shot at a fair competition for a starting job and the possibility of injury-related playing time even if he loses that competition.

The circumstances also matter. Stefanski has not lost his reputation for effective offensive game planning despite the awful results late in his Browns tenure, in the same way Mike McDaniel had numerous suitors despite the way things fell apart in Miami. Bijan Robinson is a phenomenal receiving option out of the backfield and the kind of dynamic runner who takes pressure off the passing game, while Drake London and Kyle Pitts provide the kind of big, sure-handed targets any quarterback loves. The team also has a solid offensive line that should get a boost from the return of Kaleb McGary, giving Tua a fighting chance back there. If you’re trying to land your next lucrative contract and want to show you’re still a capable quarterback, going to play for an offensive-minded coach on a roster with some genuine playmakers seems smart.

The risk for Tua is fairly obvious. If Penix is healthy to start the season and wins the job, there’s no guarantee he’ll get hurt or give that job up; I certainly hope he would not. If Tua does start and plays poorly, Penix is not a lightly-regarded backup the team would keep on the bench as long as possible, but a cannon-armed former first round pick they still clearly have interest in developing, however intense that interest may be. Tagovailoa has to be good to win and keep the job, and if he’s not, that big deal is not going to materialize in 2027.

Why would the Falcons sign Tua?​

Tua is a 76 game starter in the NFL who usually throws an accurate, catchable ball—even in his rough 2025, he ranked 27th in the NFL in bad throw percentage and was 44th in 2024—and is a lefty thrower like Michael Penix Jr. While Penix has scattershot accuracy and can attack deep, Tua is allergic to deep throws (he’s ranked outside the top 50 in average depth of target the past two seasons) and is crisp on the short-to-intermediate routes while getting rid of the ball quickly. The commonality between the two is that they are lefties and pocket passers, which allows the Falcons to build their offense accordingly no matter who is under center.

But while that’s a fun quirk and undoubtedly a factor in terms of having receivers adjust to left-handed spin and lining up protection at minimum, the bigger factor is that Tua was very good at getting the ball where it’s supposed to go not all that long ago. Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees love their screen game, and with Bijan, London, Pitts, and new signings Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus, they have players who can pick up yards after the catch both on screens and on shorter routes. When Tua is on, he can zip those short-to-intermediate passes to receivers when they’re supposed to arrive, get the ball out quickly, and keep an offense moving. The Falcons likely think they can get a better version of Tua than the one we’ve seen the past two years, and that their scheme and cast of playmakers can conspire to make life easier for him.

Tua also appeals because he’s a veteran, seasoned starter, and the Falcons had to get one given the uncertainty around Penix’s timeline. Undoubtedly Penix will hope to be back for training camp and healthy for the season, but will he be 100%? Will he be rusty? Will he suffer setbacks? Knowing that you have someone with extensive starting experience available as a fallback is a big deal, especially for a new regime that will be using 2026 to try to figure out if the future of the quarterback position is on the roster.

And hey, it’s one-year, $1.3 million. The price is a factor.

Will this work out for both sides?​

Here’s where we move past what we know and can reasonably assume and move into future performance projection, which is always rickety. But I feel fairly confident in saying two things: Tua will be decent if he has to play, and he is unlikely to be better than decent and/or capable of holding off a healthy Penix for long.

What makes me so sure? For the first part, it’s Tua’s floor as a quarterback who can get rid of the ball quickly, can deliver a sharp and accurate pass, and has more than enough experience to step in with a level of comfort. For the second part, the past two years cannot be written off as fluky simply because we might want them to be. Tua has multiple concussions over the past three seasons and additional head injuries, plus other injuries, and those have conspired to sap some of his effectiveness and spark legitimate concerns about his future in the league. He’s missed a combined nine games over two seasons and has become noticeably more hesitant, more prone to sacks and pressure, and less daring and perhaps able to attack downfield than he used to be. When he was benched last year, Tua was leading the league with 15 interceptions, which has less to do with his ability to deliver an accurate ball than to the aforementioned tendency to hesitate. Tua is also short enough that he’s half-jokingly admitted to having trouble seeing the over his offensive line, has garnered controversy for his criticism of teammates and how he’s gone about that criticism, and is effectively moored to the pocket at this stage of his career.

Is all of that on Tua versus a Dolphins team that seemed disjointed and dysfunctional, and did not have a ton of great pass-catching options with Tyreek Hill out? No. Is a decent chunk of that on Tua, an always-limited quarterback who is clearly more limited now? Yes. Even if he irons out some of the issues that hurt him a year ago, the injuries are legitimately concerning and his inability and/or unwillingness to attack downfield caps the upside of players like Pitts, London, and Dotson. All of that will likely conspire to make him a slightly below average to average starter if he’s called upon to lead this offense for any length of time.

There’s always the possibility of something more if Stefanski, this supporting cast, and Tua turn out to be an excellent fit, and especially now that he’s a Falcon, I’m rooting for Tua to revive his career in Atlanta. The chances of this being more than a single year, solid stint where Tua starts anywhere from two to ten games for a new regime figuring out the future of the franchise are probably quite slim, but both the Falcons and Tua may not need more than one quality year to bridge the way to something better. They’ll hope that a team and player widely viewed as declining can find their footing together.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...re-signing-qb-tua-tagovailoa-michael-penix-jr

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Saints poach Falcons ILB Kaden Elliss

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 29: Atlanta linebacker Kaden Elliss (55) reacts during the NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons on December 29th, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Back in 2023, the Atlanta Falcons looked at their hated rivals and saw something they liked: A pair of defenders. The team signed away Kaden Elliss and David Onyemata from the Saints that year, adding a pair of stout options in the middle of the defense, and got multiple years of quality play out of them. Now they’re both gone.

Onyemata signed with the Jets earlier this week—excuse me, he unofficially signed, owing to legal tampering—and now Elliss is headed back to New Orleans.

Sources: The #Saints are signing former #Falcons LB Kaden Eliss to a 3-year, $33M deal.

Eliss, who hasn’t missed a game since 2021, has recorded three straight 100-tackle seasons. He added 3.5 sacks and 6 passes defensed last season as well. pic.twitter.com/0TfB5J6VNg

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 10, 2026

While Jeff Ulbrich had tremendous praise for Elliss this offseason, Ian Cunningham was more measured about the possibility of his return. The team’s free agency moves thus far paint a picture of a team evaluating everything and trying to set themselves up to have a war chest of picks and cap space in 2027, so paying $11 million per year for a 31-year-old linebacker was clearly not in the cards. The Saints, who just emerged from an extended cap heck and clearly believe they can contend now, have no such qualms.

He’ll leave the Falcons with 380 combined tackles, 12.5 sacks, and two interceptions, having played 51 of 51 possible games for Atlanta. The Falcons scooped him up after three quiet years and a breakout campaign in New Orleans, and there’s little question they got their money’s worth from Elliss even if the team as a whole underperformed.

I won’t sugarcoat the on-field impact: Losing Elliss hurts. He was not a standout in coverage, but pretty much everything else you’d ask an inside linebacker to do was very much in his wheelhouse, including plus work against the run and rushing the passer effectively. The Falcons won’t be able to replace him with just one player, as Ulbrich alluded to, which means former Texan Christian Harris is probably just the first salvo at inside linebacker. If Troy Andersen were to be healthy and Harris is effective in Atlanta, perhaps that’s enough to give the Falcons quality play beside Divine Deablo, but I wouldn’t bet on that outcome and neither will the Falcons. Atlanta is losing one of the defenders who really made Ulbrich’s defense tick a year ago, and it’s fair to expect that the linebacker group won’t be as strong or as versatile without significant investment that may not be coming.

Elliss will be missed, in short, and the fact that he’s back to playing for the hated Saints means it’s hard to wish him well. The hope is that the Falcons are, after the dust settles on this offseason, still a clearly better football team than New Orleans, but much remains to be done before we know that.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlanta-falcons-free-agecy/92225/saints-poach-falcons-ilb-kaden-elliss

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

James Pearce Jr. updates: The latest on Falcons EDGE’s arrest, felony charges

Dec 21, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. (27) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

James Pearce Jr.’s arrest for a variety of domestic violence-related charges in February seemed to come out of nowhere. But thanks to detailed reporting from Marc Raimondi and former Falcons beat writer Mike Rothstein at ESPN, we now know it didn’t.

WNBA player Rickea Jackson, Pearce’s former girlfriend, made at least seven 911 calls about Pearce in the weeks leading up to his arrest because she was fearful for her safety due to alleged stalking, threats, harassment, and a concern that Pearce had tried to illegally enter her residence.

On Wednesday, Raimondi and Rothstein reported that Rickea Jackson had petitioned the court for, and received, a protective order against Pearce. The order is temporary until the final hearing on the matter, which is scheduled for April 21. I’m not going to go into details about her allegations against Pearce, because they are deeply upsetting — read Marc and Michael’s story for those. I will tell you that Jackson said in her petition for a protective order that she was “in fear of my life” and if the protective order was not granted, she believed Pearce would kill her.

Per the original report:

• On Nov. 24, 2025, the day after the Falcons played the Saints in New Orleans, police responded to a domestic disturbance around 11 p.m. ET. Jackson told law enforcement Pearce had come to her home, knocked on the door and called a landline several times.
• On Nov. 25, 2025, Jackson called again, stating that Pearce’s father had warned her that Pearce was planning to return to her residence. She left the home for the evening because she did not feel safe.
• Pearce was told by law enforcement on or about Jan. 13, 2026 that he was “advised not to return to the residence.”
• On Jan. 28, 2026, officers responded to a reported burglary in process, with the resident identifying Pearce as the perpetrator. Jackson told officers she was fearful of Pearce after he’d damaged the door to her home trying to gain entry.
• Police responded to another domestic disturbance call on Feb. 1, 2026, though redactions on the police report made it difficult to ascertain what actually happened here.
• On Feb. 2, police returned to the residence and were told by a security guard that Pearce had been “stalking” Jackson and had been seen near her residence on multiple occasions over the preceding days.
• Pearce was arrested and charged on Feb. 7, 2026.

Jackson detailed the incident that led to Pearce’s arrest in the petition. From Raimondi and Rothstein:

Jackson also detailed the Feb. 7 incident that led to Pearce’s arrest, saying she saw Pearce following her in his vehicle as she drove home and that she instead called 911 and drove to a Doral, Florida, police station “because I knew James was going to hurt me.” She said Pearce chased after her at high speeds and blocked her with his car at a traffic light, trying to enter her car and jumping on top of the vehicle.

She said he then re-entered his vehicle and chased her car, striking her car multiple times to get her to spin out. She said he cut her off with his vehicle and eventually spun out himself. She said Pearce ran her off the road before she reached the Doral police station. Upon reaching the station, she flagged down an officer as Pearce rammed her car with his. It is then she says the officer attempted to arrest Pearce, who fled the scene.

The Falcons have not commented on this situation beyond their initial “gathering information” response after Pearce was arrested and charged. The NFL has said that the incident will be reviewed under its personal conduct policy, which requires a mandatory minimum six-game suspension for violence against women or children. The league generally waits for the legal process to play out before making a determination on discipline.

Pearce’s attorneys maintain his innocence, while Jackson’s attorneys have said she is prepared to testify against him should this go to trial.

Pearce is currently facing five felony charges related to the incident: two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, one count of aggravated stalking, fleeing and eluding police officers, and aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer. He also faces nine separate traffic violations and a misdemeanor charge for resisting an officer without violence to his or her person.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...dates-felony-charges-911-calls-rickea-jackson

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons free agency 2026: Breaking down the signings and new approach

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 26: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins passes the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter in the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Falcons began free agency with a flurry of smaller, more conservative moves that signal a shift in the team’s approach under new general manager Ian Cunningham. Kevin Knight breaks down the reported signings, including Tua Tagovailoa, Jahan Dotson, Azeez Ojulari, and more. Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of the Dirty Birds and Brews podcast!

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Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...6-breaking-down-the-signings-and-new-approach

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons free agency 2026: Atlanta signs OLB Samson Ebukam

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 28: Samson Ebukam #52 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a fumble recovery during the first quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Falcons are basically rebuilding their outside linebacker group from scratch, given that Jalon Walker was the only holdover from last year guaranteed to play this year. They have James Pearce Jr. with a cloudy future owing to his arrest and multiple charges and Bralen Trice returning from yet another injury, but it was clear they’d need to rebuild.

Former Brown Cameron Thomas is a bigger option who may play both standing up and with his hand in the dirt, and former Eagle and Giant Azeez Ojulari signed to join the outside linebacker rotation. Now the Falcons have added yet another option, and he’s the most established one yet.

That would be Samson Ebukam, the former Colt, 49er, and Ram with 35 career sacks. Ebukam, who will be 31 this season, had a quiet season in 2025 but was returning from an Achilles injury that cost him the entire season. His last fully healthy year, in 2023, he put up 9.5 sacks for Indianapolis.

Former Colts DE Samson Ebukam reached agreement today with the Atlanta Falcons, per his agent Cameron Foster pic.twitter.com/5TTzcDxsUM

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2026

Chances are good the Falcons are getting someone who piles up, say, four or five sacks instead of close to ten. But if he’s healthy, Ebukam is a really solid player who has a proven track record as a quality pass rusher and who offers decent-to-good run defense. The age and the fairly recent major injury offer a level of concern, but on what’s likely to be an affordable pact and with the team adding other options that will allow them to rotate a player who hasn’t played over 500 snaps since 2023, I’m not overly worried. Ebukam should be an effective piece of this rebuilt rotation.

The Falcons can and should still do additional work with this group, but Walker gives them considerable upside and Ojulari, Thomas, and now Ebukam offer solid track records and rotational help for a group that doesn’t know whether it will have Pearce (probably not) or Trice (hopefully) in 2026. They’ve significantly raised the floor, and I’d expect Ebukam to be a contributor. Give him a warm welcome.

Source: https://www.thefalcoholic.com/atlan...-atlanta-signs-olb-samson-ebukam-jalon-walker