The Atlanta Falcons' initial 53-man roster is officially set in stone, but there are still some moving parts that are going to affect how this ends up. Waivers kicks off later this afternoon at 1:00 p.m., and the paranoia to pick up some of the league's best released players is going to extend across the NFL.
The Falcons' current roster likely isn't going to remain as-is, since some players could be placed on short-term IR to make room to sign other players, but the other thing we need to take note of is the practice squad. What players will this new regime look to stash on the practice squad after cuts?
NFL teams can carry up to 16 players on their practice squad (and get a 17th for an international player), which means that a good chunk of the players that the Falcons released will end up there. So I decided to try my hand on projecting how the practice squad will look in Atlanta.
There's one caveat: I did not list a quarterback on here even though I think either Jack Strand or Cooper Rush will end up here.
Which cut players will make it onto the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad?
1. RB Tyler Goodson
It's only fair to start this off with the biggest surprise cut of the day. Intially, Tyler Goodson looked like a roster lock, but when the Falcons opted only to keep two running backs (Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr.) on the active roster, the supposed RB3 frontrunner found himself back in free agency.
However, all signs to this move being strategic, and he should be back. Atlanta already reportedly wants to bring him back on the practice squad assuming another team doesn't pick him up--but there's also the possibility that Goodson can find his way back onto the active roster come Week 1.
2. WR Vinny Anthony II
Speaking of the Dirty Birds being strategic in their roster construction, they only kept five receivers on the initial 53, presumably because their sixth WR will be a gameday call-up. That could mean Vinny Anthony II, Juice Wells Jr., or Dylan Drummond--but Anthony has a good shot to stick around.
There was a fair amount of talk that the undrafted rookie would make the active roster after a strong performance in both training camp and the preseason, but he's not going anywhere. After all, ESPN's Marc Raimondi already confirmed Vinny Anthony II is likely to be retained on the practice squad.
3. TE Nick Muse
For the second straight player, we have someone who was released with the intent of ending up on the practice squad. Nick Muse was a late-summer signing for the Falcons, and impressed in training camp, so Tom Pelissero made sure to confirm he was likely headed to the P-Squad upon his release.
4. EDGE Azeez Ojulari
Like Goodson, Azeez Ojulari is a player the Atlanta Falcons could eventually bring back to the active roster. While he wasn't great in camp, he drew the short straw of the Falcons wanting to roster 13 defensive backs, since they only kept three edge rushers on the squad after the roster cut deadline.
But in the event that they go another route for the fourth EDGE spot, the Georgia product will likely be stashed on the practice squad.
5. EDGE Bralen Trice
And now we're talking about another edge rusher for stash purposes. Now that he's healthy 2024 third-round pick Bralen Trice was hoping to get his redemption arc this summer after injuries sidelined him for the entirety of his first two NFL seasons--he doesn't have a single regular season snap under his belt.
However, assuming Trice doesn't find a new home once waivers opens up, the Falcons should want to stash him on the practice squad in case of an emergency.
6. WR Dylan Drummond
If Atlanta decided to roster six wideouts on their 53, Dylan Drummond was the favorite to be the WR6. He played a key role down the stretch last season and was fairly productive, and given he also offers special teams value, it would have been foolish not to kick the tires on retaining him post-release.
In case receiver insurance is needed, he should stick around--but he could draw external interest too. And if that's the case, Cedric Tillman is still there for the taking.
7. OG Kam Dewberry
UDFA Kam Dewberry was the backup right guard behind Chris Lindstrom during Falcons camp, and out-performed all of Andrew Stueber, Layden Robinson, and Jaedan Roberts. He was fairly solid in the preseason too, but his momentum was halted when he got carted off the field against the Colts.
Based off of that alone, I would expect him to go un-claimed and end up on the practice squad.
8. LB Josh Woods
The Falcons' final roster spot in the linebacker room came down to JD Bertrand and Josh Woods--two players who were likely going to see more run on special teams than defense. And even though Woods had a solid summer, Bertrand did too, and the new regime settled on the younger player.
However, I've always believed whoever didn't make the roster of the two was headed for the practice squad, and I still believe it.
9. CB Darnay Holmes
The third veteran on this list is Darnay Holmes, who somehow didn't make the roster even though the Falcons rostered 13 defensive backs. It's pretty sad when he was the starting nickel not too long ago, but even with Billy Bowman Jr.'s return looming, he's a return candidate amid the roster gymnastics.
Losing out to guys like Mike Ford Jr. and Jammie Robinson is a bad look for the veteran, but assuming someone is placed on short-term IR, he's a possible return candidate. And even if here isn't much movement in the secondary, it would be nice to have him on the practice squad if he goes unsigned.
10. DT Carlos Allen Jr.
We're back to the undrafted rookie revolution, and we have another guy who stood out this summer in Atlanta native Carlos Allen Jr..--but the Falcons never had room for him. They kept six defensive tackles and the Gervon Dexter trade was the nail in the coffin for his immediate roster hopes.
However, Allen Jr. is a possible practice squad candidate and for good reason. He impressed in both the Colts and Dolphins games and has high upside as someone DL coach Nate Ollie can continue to develop. Moreover, I think his odds of signing elsewhere feel lower than Chris Williams' chances.
11. CB Cobee Bryant
For the second straight offseason, the Falcons cut Cobee Bryant at the eleventh hour--and even trading Clark Phillips III couldn't save him. He was out-performed by C.J. Henderson in camp, which basically evaporated his roster hopes in thin air--but this still is the team's top 2025 UDFA.
Jordan Schultz already reported that the Falcons would like to bring the three-time All-Big 12 First Team cornerback back on the practice squad, and that should happen as long as he goes unclaimed.
12. TE Jack Velling
Undrafted rookie Jack Velling was another player who was particularly promising for the Falcons during training camp, and has potential as a red zone threat. His talent was just overshadowed by an incompetent situation at Michigan State where he was victim of some truly abysmal QB play.
I debated between Velling and Joshua Simon for this spot, but with how much Stefanski loves TEs and how only three made the roster, he could stick around as injury insurance.
14. RB Nate Carter
It's only fitting to go from Velling to his former MSU teammate in Nate Carter. Assuming Goodson finds himself back on the 53, stashing Carter on the practice squad would make sense--even though he didn't have the most productive summer.
In an ideal world, both Carter and Cash Jones would stick around on the practice squad, but since this isn't possible because of the two players behind him, I can only pick one. And I'll roll with the former camp darling who was Atlanta's RB3 for most of last season.
15. OT Riley Mahlman
Wanya Morris would be a player I would say to keep an eye on the practice squad, but I would be surprised if he doesn't get picked up by another team. That means that the offensive tackle getting the chance in my practice squad projection isn't Jack Nelson, but his former Wisconsin teammate.
At 6-foot-8 and 308 pounds, Riley Mahlman is one massive human, and with Ethan Onianwa on the active roster, he can be Bill Callahan's developmental project on the P-Squad. The other option here is an external player, in Kiran Amegadjie, whom Ian Cunningham helped draft with the Chicago Bears.
16. OL James Brockermeyer
James Brockermeyer was a player who received a lot of hype when the Falcons signed him as an undrafted free agent last April. Some saw him as Ryan Neuzil's long-term successor at center, and he even got some first-team reps in OTAs, but his name never came up at any point of training camp.
Even though it wasn't the brightest summer for him, who knows how long Corey Levin will hold up as the backup center. So the fact that they can stash a first-team All-American and the starting center for Miami's national championship team on the practice squad is the easiest decision on this list.
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