The linebacker position is fluid for the Atlanta Falcons. After letting Kaden Elliss depart in free agency, there isn't an on-paper player that sticks out -- at least for now. But Divine Deablo is set to take on a larger role in this linebacker room, as he's set to take on the role of the defense's new green dot.
We know Jeff Ulbrich knows how to make good linebackers into great ones. It is a major reason the front office was confident in letting the veteran walk. And it appears the payoff is already here as the team has already found a couple of mid-to-late-round picks to man the position alongside Deablo.
Rookies Kendall Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. have caught the eye of the leader in the room, as they look to have a surprising impact on the defense in 2026. While addressing the media, Deablo was asked about what he's seen from them this summer--and his answer ended in overwhelming praise.
“I think Kendall [Daniels] and [Harold Perkins Jr.], they both look great," Deablo said. "They're way ahead of what I expect from any rookies, so they're doing a great job. Obviously, they gotta keep it up. We'll see more in the preseason, but I'm excited."
Falcons can't help but be excited about their rookie linebacker tandem
Daniels was a name that casual fans didn't know when the Dirty Birds took him in the fourth round of April's draft. But the Oklahoma product has the athleticism to become a reincarnated Deion Jones or De'Vondre Campbell -- two players who made immediate impacts for a Super Bowl-bound team as rookies.
And then there is Perkins Jr., who somehow outside the top 200 despite previously being a no-doubt top-10 pick before injuries took its toll. Both of these guys are bound to prove the other 31 teams -- who passed on them numerous times -- wrong
Divine Deablo knows what a great athletic linebacker looks like -- he probably looks in the mirror every day. His words shouldn't be taken lightly; he may be telling everyone in the media to shut up about this being a problematic position for this team since both of these guys have bright futures.
If either of those rookies can give Ulbrich a significant number of snaps as a rookie, it would be a dream come true. The defensive staff hopes that Deablo and Christian Harris can be the duo that lines up in the base formation. And maybe, just maybe, they get some production from Troy Andersen.
Those three things coming true would allow the two rooks to slowly transition into the pros. But if things don't go as planned, we'd better hope Deablo is correct.
No one is doubting Ulbrich's ability to get the most out of his linebackers; he has done it time after time as an NFL coach--including with Deablo himself. Daniels and Perkins Jr. have to be counting their lucky stars that they landed in his lap because there is no better place for them to be.
Hopefully, the Falcons see their rookies blossom into the Day 1 contributors we've seen them look like in training camp, so they can complement Divine Deablo and make this linebacking core one of the deepest in the NFL--especially now that Jalon Walker is out for the year.
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