Now that the 53-man roster has been revealed on the cusp of the 2026 NFL season, the Atlanta Falcons have clarity on who exactly will be in the building and eating up the lion's share of the snaps on Sundays. Facing that truth can mean one of two things, though.
One is that this roster has some serious strengths, and the Falcons played into that with who they kept around. But the reveal also proved that Atlanta is not without weaknesses or positions still in need of some upgrades. This team is far from a finished product.
But what options does Ian Cunningham have left to improve this team? He already made a sizeable trade for Gervon Dexter, and the open market isn't exactly robust. Foes will charge premium prices at this point in the offseason if you want to make a deal for one of their active roster players.
So, maybe the Falcons should be scanning the other 31 practice squads around the NFL for upgrades. Here are five that may fit the bill for Kevin Stefanski's team.
5 NFL practice squad players the Falcons can poach as upgrades
Clelin Ferrell, DE, Miami Dolphins
Ferrell will carry the "bust" label for as long as he's in the league, but that doesn't mean he can't be an asset for a battered Atlanta edge rusher room. He's not going to fill up the stat sheet, but in a limited snap share, Ferrell has notched 3.5, 3.5 and 4.0 sacks in the last three seasons. That's certainly not nothing, and he's just sitting there on the Dolphins' practice squad for the taking.
Will Putnam, IOL, Las Vegas Raiders
The Falcons' offensive line depth is a bit questionable, and Putnam could be a legitimate solution. I know it sounds crazy to want a player who didn't make the Raiders' roster, especially on the offensive line, but Las Vegas improved their front a lot this offseason. Putnam is a versatile interior player who got a good amount of live snaps last year, and he looked much improved during this preseason.
Lander Barton, LB, Los Angeles Chargers
Barton was a fun prospect coming out of Utah this spring, and he showed a lot this preseason in Los Angeles. Not only can he play in the box as an off-ball linebacker, but Barton also has the ability to line up on the edge and get after the quarterback. He's still a bit rough around the edges, but Barton could be a nice piece to develop in a thin Falcons linebacker room.
Rayshaun Benny, DT, Baltimore Ravens
Benny is a big, heavy and physical player on the defensive interior with pass-rush skills and run-stopping ability. This August in Baltimore, he flashed a bit of both, and if Atlanta wants to continue bolstering its defensive tackle group for both now and with the future in mind, then the rookie Benny could fit the bill.
Tristan Leigh, OT, Minnesota Vikings
Leigh is purely a developmental prospect at this point, but the Falcons don't exactly have tons of offensive tackle talent behind Jake Matthews and Jawaan Taylor. As a former five-star recruit, Leigh clearly has some tools to work with and upside to tap into, and he had some really nice reps this preseason. Calling him an "upgrade" may be a stretch, but he could be worth a flyer, at least.
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