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Even though the Atlanta Falcons have a big question mark at the quarterback position, this team isn't short on talent. Last year, the Falcons drafted two Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists, and two additional starters on defense.
Offensively, Atlanta boasts one of the NFL's most talented offensive lines and an elite trio of skill position players in Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London.
In today's Falcons Wire Recap, ESPN breaks down Atlanta's top trade assets, CBS Sports criticizes the team's revamped quarterback room, and NFL execs ranks Jessie Bates III among the league's best safeties.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell broke down each team's most valuable trade assets ahead of the 2026 season. Three Falcons players -- Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Jalon Walker -- were deemed worthy of a first-round pick or more.
"The 15th pick in last year's draft, Walker finished with 5.5 sacks and nine quarterback knockdowns while playing just under 500 snaps as a rookie," wrote Barnwell. "He was really a rotation piece for the Falcons, playing just under 51% of the snaps and failing to top 65% in a single game all season. There's the potential for more significant production here if Walker is simply on the field more often in 2026."
Over at CBS Sports, they still aren't buying in on the Falcons quarterback room. The Dolphins just paid $99 million to release Tua Tagovailoa, and Michael Penix Jr. has yet to be cleared for contact. The uncertainty around the QB competition is cause for concern, and Atlanta was ranked way down at No. 28 in CBS Sports' QB rankings.
"One of the more strange moments from this offseason was when the Atlanta Falcons immediately pivoted to Tua Tagovailoa after the Miami Dolphins made the decision to take on an NFL-record $99 million in dead cap just to get rid of him. Tagovailoa led the NFL in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023, but has struggled with both consistency and injuries since signing that massive $212.4 million extension," wrote CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani.
Jessie Bates III landed as the No. 5 safety on ESPN's poll of NFL execs and coaches. The former Cincinnati Bengals has been one of the league's best defenders over his three seasons in Atlanta. Here's an excerpt from what Jeremy Fowler gathered:
CBS Sports listed each team's biggest roster needs before training camp begins. For the Falcons, the wide receiver, defensive tackle and edge rusher positions were deemed their top needs, and it's hard to disagree.
"At receiver, the team added a few veterans, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus, but those are the only proven commodities aside from Drake London," wrote Josh Edwards. "Atlanta drafted Zachariah Branch in the third round, but he may not be ready to run the full route tree. The Falcons flipped defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro for Maason Smith. The team also has Brandon Dorlus and Da'Shawn Hand at the position. Edge rusher is a wild card with James Pearce Jr.'s situation."
While Falcons safety Xavier Watts did not make ESPN's top 10 safeties, he was listed among the honorable mentions. Watts led all rookies with five interceptions last season. Here's what one anonymous NFL coordinator told Jeremy Fowler about the second-year safety's elite upside.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons Recap: Jalon Walker's trade value, ESPN praises Jessie Bates
Continue reading...
Offensively, Atlanta boasts one of the NFL's most talented offensive lines and an elite trio of skill position players in Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London.
In today's Falcons Wire Recap, ESPN breaks down Atlanta's top trade assets, CBS Sports criticizes the team's revamped quarterback room, and NFL execs ranks Jessie Bates III among the league's best safeties.
ESPN breaks down Falcons' most valuable trade assets
ESPN's Bill Barnwell broke down each team's most valuable trade assets ahead of the 2026 season. Three Falcons players -- Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Jalon Walker -- were deemed worthy of a first-round pick or more.
"The 15th pick in last year's draft, Walker finished with 5.5 sacks and nine quarterback knockdowns while playing just under 500 snaps as a rookie," wrote Barnwell. "He was really a rotation piece for the Falcons, playing just under 51% of the snaps and failing to top 65% in a single game all season. There's the potential for more significant production here if Walker is simply on the field more often in 2026."
CBS Sports ranks Falcons QB room 28th in NFL
Over at CBS Sports, they still aren't buying in on the Falcons quarterback room. The Dolphins just paid $99 million to release Tua Tagovailoa, and Michael Penix Jr. has yet to be cleared for contact. The uncertainty around the QB competition is cause for concern, and Atlanta was ranked way down at No. 28 in CBS Sports' QB rankings.
"One of the more strange moments from this offseason was when the Atlanta Falcons immediately pivoted to Tua Tagovailoa after the Miami Dolphins made the decision to take on an NFL-record $99 million in dead cap just to get rid of him. Tagovailoa led the NFL in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023, but has struggled with both consistency and injuries since signing that massive $212.4 million extension," wrote CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani.
Jessie Bates ranked among top 5 safeties
Jessie Bates III landed as the No. 5 safety on ESPN's poll of NFL execs and coaches. The former Cincinnati Bengals has been one of the league's best defenders over his three seasons in Atlanta. Here's an excerpt from what Jeremy Fowler gathered:
CBS Sports on Falcons' top needs
CBS Sports listed each team's biggest roster needs before training camp begins. For the Falcons, the wide receiver, defensive tackle and edge rusher positions were deemed their top needs, and it's hard to disagree.
"At receiver, the team added a few veterans, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus, but those are the only proven commodities aside from Drake London," wrote Josh Edwards. "Atlanta drafted Zachariah Branch in the third round, but he may not be ready to run the full route tree. The Falcons flipped defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro for Maason Smith. The team also has Brandon Dorlus and Da'Shawn Hand at the position. Edge rusher is a wild card with James Pearce Jr.'s situation."
Xavier Watts makes ESPN's honorable mentions
While Falcons safety Xavier Watts did not make ESPN's top 10 safeties, he was listed among the honorable mentions. Watts led all rookies with five interceptions last season. Here's what one anonymous NFL coordinator told Jeremy Fowler about the second-year safety's elite upside.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons Recap: Jalon Walker's trade value, ESPN praises Jessie Bates
Continue reading...
