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Atlanta Falcons News & Rumors

NFL Minor Transactions: 4/11/25

April 11th, 2025 at 6:43pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

King returned to the field last year for the first time since 2021. A former second-round pick for the Packers, King was a starter in Green Bay before deciding to sit out the 2022 season for personal reasons. He attempted to make a return in 2023, but a torn Achilles tendon prevented him from doing so.

Finally coming back to the NFL with the Falcons last year, King saw very few snaps on defense in the regular season despite being a standout in the offseason. King was praised for his defensive versatility throughout camp and the preseason, but the Falcons mostly utilized the veteran on special teams.

S Justin Simmons Does Not Expect To Re-Sign With Falcons

April 8th, 2025 at 2:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

In advance of free agency, Justin Simmons said he wanted to remain with the Falcons. The decorated safety could still work out a new deal after his Atlanta debut in 2024, but he is not expecting that to take place.

“It was a one-year thing,” Simmons said during an appearance on Up & Adams (video link). “They like kind of their younger guys, too. Sometimes things just don’t work out and you go in different directions. I don’t know if the door’s necessarily closed. But we’ll see.”

Atlanta already has Jessie Bates on the books for the next two years. Simmons joined him late last offseason, and he operated as a full-time starter. The latter recorded a pair of interceptions and seven pass deflections, but overall he was unable to match his success seen during much of his eight-year Broncos tenure. Simmons remains on the open market, and at this point it would come as no surprise if his next contract were to be in place after this month’s draft.

Simmons did not sign with the Falcons until last August, missing part of training camp as a result. If the 31-year-old had his way, a repeat of that timeline would not take place this time around. Considering the fact Atlanta allowed him to test free agency and has not made a known effort to re-sign him, a contract with a third career team will be likely. The two-time Pro Bowler could again provide a veteran presence to a Falcons safety group which also features Richie Grant and DeMarcco Hellams, but one of those two could replace him in the starting lineup next season.

As could be expected, Simmons is also interested in joining a contender at this point of his career. A veteran of 134 games, he has yet to appear in a postseason contest. Competing for a first-team gig may not be feasible depending on where he lands, but the former interceptions leader will aim to land a deal with a team eyeing a deep playoff run in 2025.

“We’ll see,” Simmons added. “I want to go to the best situation, and I want to go to a team that’s going to win. So, we’ll see what that looks like.”

Falcons Re-Sign CB Dee Alford

April 7th, 2025 at 2:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

Dee Alford did not receive an RFA tender from the Falcons this offseason. That decision left the former undrafted free agent in line to join a new team, but instead he will remain in Atlanta for 2025.

[RELATED: Falcons Likely To Prioritize Defensive Draft Additions]

The team announced on Monday that Alford has been re-signed. He has spent the past three years with Atlanta, taking on a larger defensive workload with each passing campaign. In 2024, Alford handled a snap share of 69%, a factor which made it somewhat surprising he was non-tendered. The least expensive RFA tender checked in at $3.26MM this offseason, so this pact will likely carry a price tag lower than that figure.

Alford made five starts in 2023 and another 11 this past campaign, operating almost entirely in the slot during that time. The 27-year-old set a new career high with 11 pass breakups in 2024, and his 83 tackles were by the most in his NFL tenure. Alford surrendered eight touchdowns in coverage as the nearest defender, however, and his PFF evaluation for 2024 was worse than that of the previous two campaigns.

As a result, a first-team spot is not assured entering training camp. Atlanta has 2023 fourth-rounder Clark Phillips in place as a candidate to handle starting duties on the inside. His playing time dropped last season compared to his rookie campaign, but a rebound could take place depending on how the summer unfolds. Alford has previously seen return duties, but aside from that he does not have a track record of special teams experience.

The Falcons already have A.J. Terrell on the books as their top perimeter corner, and they re-signed Mike Hughes on a three-year deal last month. Those two will continue to see time as boundary cover men, while Alford could once again find himself occupying a notable role in the slot.

Falcons Owner Arthur Blank On Draft Approach; Team Hosted Texas LT Kelvin Banks Jr.

April 6th, 2025 at 4:55pm CST by Rory Parks

4:55pm: D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, to no surprise, the Falcons have “heavily scouted” the top edge rushers in the 2025 class. The same is also true, however, of offensive tackles. That helps explain Atlanta’s interest in Banks, whom Ledbetter projects to the Falcons in his latest mock draft. Considerable focus on the defensive side of the ball would come as no surprise, but other options appear to be on the table regarding the first round.

11:55am: The Falcons finished in the bottom-10 in terms of both total defense and scoring defense in 2024, so they are widely projected to pick a defensive player in the first round of this month’s draft. Owner Arthur Blank recently offered further support for that belief.

“The emphasis during the draft will be certainly on the defensive side of the ball,” Blank said at last week’s league meetings (via Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com). “It’s pretty obvious to everybody, I would say.”

Atlanta fired one-and-done defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake this offseason and replaced him with Jeff Ulbrich. One of Ulbrich’s primary tasks will be coaxing more production out of a pass rush that finished with the second-fewest sacks in the league (31) last season, and to that end, the team has held visits with potential first-round EDGE talents like Marshall’s Mike Green and Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart.

Of course, the Falcons are not limiting their pre-draft evaluations to defensive players. Interestingly, the team recently held a private workout with Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., per longtime Longhorn beat writer Brian Davis. Atlanta GM Terry Fontenot and HC Raheem Morris were in attendance.

Banks is currently ranked as the 31st-best prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s latest big board, and Jeremiah says some clubs view Banks as a guard at the professional level. That said, he certainly has the talent to stick as a tackle, and many recent mocks project him to be selected in the first half of the first round. The Falcons presently hold the No. 15 pick and could therefore be in position to select Banks with that choice, but he is likely to be gone by the time Atlanta is back on the clock with its No. 46 pick.

The Falcons have invested considerable draft capital and dollars into their O-line, and they currently have Jake Matthews set to reprise his long-standing role as their starting LT. Matthews, 33, may be nearing the end of his career, but the team recently authorized an extension that keeps him under club control through 2028.

On the right side, Banks could serve as a near-future replacement for RT Kaleb McGary, who is entering the final year of his contract and whose trade or release would yield considerable cap savings. But McGary currently operates as the blindside protector for second-year quarterback and southpaw Michael Penix Jr., so it is unclear if the team would be comfortable plugging a rookie into that post right away. 

Even if the Falcons are one of the teams that view Banks as an interior blocker, he may not see immediate playing time if he were to land in Atlanta. The team currently has 2023 second-rounder Matthew Bergeron penciled in at left guard after he turned in a quality 2024 season, and right guard Chris Lindstrom is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl campaign and is (like Matthews) under contract through 2028.

With so many resources tied up in their offensive front already and with so many needs on defense, the Falcons were forced to let center Drew Dalman walk in free agency (Dalman signed a three-year, $42MM contract with the Bears). However, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the team is perfectly content to have Ryan Neuzil, who started a career-high eight games last year in relief of an injured Dalman, serve as Penix’s full-time snapper. Per Ledbetter, both Morris and Fontenot have spoken highly of Neuzil’s abilities.

Julio Jones Announces Retirement

April 4th, 2025 at 10:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Julio Jones bounced around the NFL during the 2020s, but the former Falcons first-rounder authored one of the most productive careers in the history of the wide receiver position. After not playing in 2024, Jones is retiring.

The 13-year veteran confirmed his NFL exit Friday via social media. Rivaling Hall of Fame defensive end Claude Humphrey and perhaps Matt Ryan as the greatest players in Falcons history, Jones retires after earning All-Decade honors for the 2010s. His prolific stretch from 2014-19 remains unmatched at the position in terms of receiving yardage.

A five-time All-Pro with two first-team honors (2015, 2016), Jones rivaled Antonio Brown as the top receiver of the 2010s. From 2014-19, the all-around great accumulated 9,388 receiving yards. That is the most during a six-season stretch in NFL history. While hamstring injuries slowed Jones in the early 2020s, he finished his career with 914 receptions for 13,703 yards and 66 touchdowns. Jones’ yardage total ranks 16th in NFL annals.

It took a blockbuster trade package for the Falcons to obtain Jones in the first place. Then-Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff sent Nos. 26, 59 and 124, along with 2012 first- and fourth-rounders, to Cleveland for No. 6. The Browns did not make out well in that trade, but the Falcons gave Roddy White a wingman who eventually became their aerial ace. Jones played a lead role for a Falcons team that booked the NFC’s No. 1 seed in 2012 and was even better two years later, when the franchise assembled one of the greatest offenses in NFL history.

Kyle Shanahan‘s second season as OC produced 33.8 points per game; that remains tied for eighth in the Super Bowl era. After a career-best 1,871 yards in 2015, Jones posted 1,409 in just 14 games to rocket the ’16 Falcons to the NFC’s No. 2 seed. Along with MVP Ryan, Jones powered that squad to Super Bowl LI with a 180-yard, two-TD showing in an NFC championship game romp over the Packers. Jones added 87 yards in the Super Bowl, including a marvelous sideline reception, but that game is obviously better known for the Falcons’ 25-point collapse.

During Atlanta’s dominant 2016 offensive run, the 6-foot-3 dynamo delivered a 300-yard receiving game against the Panthers. This came two years after he scorched a playoff-bound Packers team for 259. He added a 253-yard outing against the Buccaneers in 2017.

Jones again led the NFL in receiving in 2018, with 1,677 yards, and reset the market at his position just before the ’19 season. Lengthy extension talks produced a three-year, $66MM deal (which came with $64MM guaranteed), making Jones the first $20MM-AAV receiver. He was unable to play out that contract — his second lucrative re-up — after suffering hamstring injuries in 2020 and ’21. The Falcons traded Jones to the Titans for a second-round pick in 2021, soon seeing Calvin Ridley leave the team due to mental health reasons, and dealt Ryan a year later. Jones contributed to Tennessee’s No. 1 seed that year but only totaled 434 yards in 10 games. The Titans designated him a post-June 1 cut in 2022.

Venturing to Tampa in 2022 and Philly in ’23, Jones was unable to show much of his pre-injuries form. He combined for just 373 yards over his final two seasons, and no team signed him last year. That said, Jones will earn Canton induction; by not playing in 2024, he will be eligible for the 2029 class.

Over the course of his career, the Alabama alum earned $147.3MM. Much of this came on his first extension, a five-year, $71.25MM deal agreed to just before the 2015 season. The Falcons employed a White-Jones-Tony Gonzalez aerial armada from 2011-13, but Jones was alone as the team’s receiving anchor by 2016. White’s 63 receiving TDs still rank first in franchise history, but Jones surpassed his former mentor in receptions and yardage with Atlanta.

Arthur Blank Addresses Falcons GM Terry Fontenot’s Status

April 4th, 2025 at 11:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Terry Fontenot has been in place as the Falcons’ general manager since 2021. The team’s record has remained consistent during his four years at the helm, but Atlanta has yet to post a winning campaign or reach the postseason during that span.

As a result, questions have been raised about a potential front office change. When speaking about the subject, owner Arthur Blank did not give Fontenot, 44, a public vote of confidence. However, he also declined to term 2025 as a make-or-break season with respect to his job security.

“Every year for everybody is a crucial year,” Blank said (via ESPN’s Marc Raimondi). “So, I don’t want to say the NFL is ‘Not For Long.’ I don’t believe in that, because I fundamentally do believe – and I’ll make this point really clear – the most successful teams in the National Football League, you go back to the last 10 years, 20 years, 100 years… are teams that have long-term sustainability between their coaches and their general managers.”

Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith were paired together in 2021, but their three-year run did not go according to plan. Atlanta went 7-10 every year during that stretch, and Smith’s firing led to a reunion with Raheem Morris. The latter took on head coaching duties in 2024, a season which saw the team post a 6-3 start. The Falcons ended the year on a 2-6 skid, again falling short of a postseason berth and replacing Kirk Cousins with Michael Penix Jr. at the quarterback depth chart along the way. A potential parting of ways with Cousins after only one year in Atlanta is now a central offseason storyline.

Blank cited stability under center as another pillar of long-term success. The Falcons obviously hope Penix, selected with the No. 8 pick last April, will given them a true Matt Ryan successor. Even if that proves to be the case, though, Fontenot will be tasked with building a strong roster during the remainder of his rookie contract. Atlanta has made several high-profile draft investments on offense recently, and making needed improvements on the other side of the ball will be critical moving forward.

The NFC South has not excatly been among the league’s strongest divisions over Fontenot’s tenure, and again falling short of at least a wild-card berth in 2025 would no doubt lead to increased pressure with respect to a firing. For now, at least, Blank’s preference to keep him in place with Morris – and avoid a repeat of last season’s second-half fallout – has him safe for Year 5 at the helm.

Latest On Falcons, Kirk Cousins; QB Still Prefers To Be Released

April 3rd, 2025 at 7:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kirk Cousins is known to be on the trade block, with the Falcons confirming this week their willingness to work out a deal under the right circumstances. Of course, finances will play a major role in determining if an acceptable agreement can be reached.

Cousins has already seen his $10MM roster bonus vest for the 2026 season, but at issue in ongoing trade discussions is his scheduled $27.5MM base salary for next year. An acquiring team would take on a portion of that compensation as the Falcons aim to move forward with Michael Penix Jr. atop the depth chart. Atlanta has set the bar rather high with respect to the financial responsibility of Cousins’ next team, though.

Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post reports the Falcons are “insisting” on the acquiring team in a Cousins swap taking on between $20MM and $25MM of what he is owed for 2025. To little surprise, he adds that demand has stalled talks on a deal to date. Owner Arthur Blank is seen as the driving force behind the team’s stance on this front, and with the draft approaching and the list of teams in need of a veteran QB addition thinned out it will be interesting to see if it changes in the near future.

Cousins appeared to be set up for at least a two-year stint as Atlanta’s starter when he signed in free agency last spring. The Falcons’ decision to the draft Penix eighth overall immediately led to speculation about a parting of ways for Cousins, and that has emerged as a possibility this offseason. The 36-year-old has let the team know his desire to be released, but even doing so with a post-June 1 designation would result in a $50MM dead cap charge. A trade thus represents a more suitable path, but Cousins does not want to waive his no-trade clause until after the draft to avoid a repeat of last year’s situation.

A third-round pick has been mentioned as compensation in a potential Cousins trade, but teams will of course not be willing to part with notable capital in addition to taking on the majority of his base pay for next year. The possibility remains that the four-time Pro Bowler will stay in place and operate as a highly expensive backup behind Penix. Head coach Raheem Morris confirmed at the league meetings (via NFL.com) Atlanta remains on board with such a scenario in the event a trade cannot be worked out.

Of the few realistic suitors for the four-time Pro Bowler, the Browns have often been mentioned as the top one to watch. Kenny Pickett was acquired via trade last month, and at the moment he is in position to lead a QB depth chart which features an injured Deshaun Watson. Cleveland aims to move forward from the ill-fated Watson acquisition, something which could include a draft investment as early as the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft or a short-term move such as reuniting Cousins with former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.

As noted by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution during an appearance on 92.3 The Fan, the Browns are not in a position to trade for Cousins and take on some (perhaps most) of his remaining contract. In the unlikely event a release were to take place (something Ledbetter confirms is still his preference), Cleveland would presumably show interest in a low-cost deal given the offset language in Cousins’ contract. Considering Atlanta’s apparent asking price in a swap, though, it would come as a surprise if serious traction toward an agreement with the Browns or any other suitor were to be gained in the near future.

Raheem Morris: Falcons Open To Trading Kirk Cousins

April 2nd, 2025 at 8:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

TODAY, 8:30pm: Owner Arthur Blank echoed Morris’s statements, telling Josh Kendall of The Athletic that the Falcons will listen to offers on Cousins on their terms.

“At the end of the day, what happens happens, maybe something pre-draft, draft, post-draft, I don’t know,” Blank said, “but [Cousins] understands what our needs are and what we have to do as a franchise.”

YESTERDAY, 9am: Much of the discussion related to the Falcons’ offseason revolves around Kirk Cousins‘ future. The team has repeatedly stated a willingness to keep the Pro Bowl quarterback in place as a backup, but head coach Raheem Morris left the door open to a parting of ways on Monday.

Cousins has made it clear he wants a change of scenery after one year in Atlanta. The 36-year-old old inked a four-year deal to join the Falcons last offseason, but he was benched late in the year in favor of first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. The latter is set to handle starting duties moving forward, but Atlanta’s decision to keep Cousins in the fold past the vesting date of his $10MM 2026 roster bonus helped confirm he will not be released.

That leaves a trade as a possibility, although Cousins will not waive his no-trade clause until after the draft takes place later this month. Doing so will help him avoid a repeat of last year’s situation (where he was caught off guard by the decision to draft Penix), but it could limit the number of suitors in play to acquire him. When speaking about the Cousins situation on Tuesday, Morris noted the team would be on board with dealing him under the right circumstances.

“There’s definitely a human side when you want to see him go out and be the best version of himself,” Morris said (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams). “This is not a thing where we’re holding you back if the opportunity presents itself. If it’s something that’s good for both of us — it’s good for the Falcons and Kirk Cousins — we certainly would like to see that happen.”

Finances will be a challenge to work out between Atlanta and an acquiring team. Cousins is owed $27.5MM next season, and offset language in his pact means the Falcons could pass on at least some of that figure (along with the $10MM locked in for next season) to his new team. Especially after the draft has taken place, though, most NFL teams will have their 2025 starter in the fold. That will limit the Falcons’ opportunities to swing a deal. If retaining funds winds up being required to pull of a trade, Josh Kendall of The Athletic predicts the team will be willing to do so (subscription required).

The Browns have frequently been named as a team to watch on the Cousins front, given the presence of a familiar face in head coach Kevin Stefanski. A recent report noted a strong push to acquire the former Viking should not be expected at this time, however. As Kendall’s colleague Dianna Russini notes, though, a Cousins-to-Cleveland move would not come as a surprise given the ongoing discourse around the subject (video link). Barring another veteran acquisition under center, the Browns will remain a potential suitor worth monitoring.

To no surprise, Morris added in his remarks that he does not expect Cousins to attend voluntary OTAs. That has been expected on the team’s part, Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer confirms. A holdout later in the offseason when mandatory minicamp and/or training camp take place would of course be more notable, provided Cousins is still on the Falcons’ roster in the summer. If an appropriate arrangement can be made regarding a trade, though, that may not be the case.

DL John Cominsky Retires

March 31st, 2025 at 3:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

John Cominsky was unavailable due to injury throughout the 2024 campaign, and he will not be back on the field in the future. The veteran defensive lineman announced his retirement on Monday.

“After six years in the NFL, I am officially medically retiring,” Cominsky’s announcement reads in part. “I am proud of the career I had, but have accumulated a combination of injuries that are overwhelming my desire to continue playing…. I walk away with my family in mind and therefore, have found peace in this difficult decision.”

The 29-year-old began his career with the Falcons, playing with them from 2019-21. Cominsky made 27 appearances over that span, but he only registered one start and was never able to manage a full campaign. Despite having one season left on his rookie deal, the former fourth-rounder was waived in the spring of 2022.

Considerable interest was shown on the waiver wire, and the Lions wound up acquiring him. Cominsky took on a much larger workload during his debut campaign in the Motor City, logging eight starts and a 60% snap share. Having established himself as a first-team contributor, the Charleston product re-signed with the Lions on a two-year, $8.5MM pact that offseason. Cominsky made a career-high 16 appearances in 2023, notching a new personal high with 36 tackles and adding a pair of sacks (after recording four the previous season).

Expectations were high as a result ahead of this past campaign. A summer MCL tear kept Cominsky sidelined, however, and by December it was clear he was one of many Lions defenders who were not seen as a candidate to return later in the campaign. Now, Detroit will move forward knowing Cominsky will not be a 2025 contributor along the D-line.

A veteran of 60 combined regular and postseason games, Cominsky will turn his attention to his post-playing days. He exists the NFL with just over $10MM in career earnings.

Kirk Cousins Seeking Post-Draft Trade

March 29th, 2025 at 4:52pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

MARCH 29: Had Cousins been released, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports notes he still would not have signed with a suitor such as the Browns prior to the draft (video link). Cleveland will continue to be linked to a deal later this offseason, but that could very well change if the team adds a signal-caller early in April. Such a scenario would further limit the number of feasible Cousins suitors.

MARCH 24: After a failed attempt to be released ahead of free agency, Kirk Cousins is now in no rush to force a move out of Atlanta. He is planning to wait until after the draft before waiving his no-trade clause to facilitate a deal, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

The Falcons held onto Cousins long enough for $10MM of his 2026 salary to vest into a full guarantee and have signaled their willingness to keep him as an expensive backup this season. He would prefer to find a starting job elsewhere, though he’s wary of a repeat of last year’s situation in Atlanta. The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $160MM deal in March and drafted Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick six weeks later. That put pressure on the 13-year veteran to live up to his contract while making it clear that he was not the team’s long-term quarterback.

When Cousins hit a patch of rough play in December, the Falcons benched him for Penix, effectively ending the 36-year-old’s tenure in Atlanta after 14 games. In 2025, he doesn’t want a highly drafted rookie breathing down his neck. That would be a risk with his two most likely suitors, the Browns and the Giants, who hold the second and third overall picks in April’s draft. After years of instability under center, both teams have been repeatedly linked with the draft’s top two quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.

Cousins’ willingness to wait on a trade should work for his potential suitors. The Browns and the Giants can do their due diligence on Ward, Sanders, and even Jaxson Dart and let the draft play out. The Steelers are considered a “safe bet” to land Aaron Rodgers, but if that doesn’t work out, they could inquire about Cousins, according to Breer. However, Pittsburgh may want to see if a top quarterback falls within range of a trade up from the 21st overall pick.

Cousins would only waive his no-trade clause prior to the draft if his new team commits to not using a first-round pick on quarterback, according to Breer. That condition may not be amenable to front offices in Cleveland and New York that are looking for a long-term franchise quarterback.

It’s possible that the Browns look at a talented roster besieged by injuries last year and decide that trading for Cousins and using the No. 3 pick on an impact receiver or edge rusher is enough to compete in the AFC North. That doesn’t seem likely for the Giants, who have more holes to fill on their roster. They have also signaled a desire to add another veteran and draft a quarterback in the first round, even after signing Jameis Winston.

Cousins’ approach does involve some risk. If the Browns, Giants, and Steelers all solidify their quarterback situations by the end of the draft, he may be left without any suitors headed into the summer. That would leave him stuck in Atlanta as Penix’s backup with a $27.5MM salary that could be a barrier to a trade.

The Falcons would already be absorbing $37.5MM in dead cap space ($12.5MM in 2025 and $25MM in 2026) if they moved Cousins. Eating some or all of his 2025 salary would push their costs to $90MM for just one year and 14 starts from Cousins, a position Falcons owner Arthur Blank would prefer to avoid, according to Breer.

That will, of course, impact how much draft compensation teams will give up to acquire Cousins. A trade out of Atlanta to a team with a starting job available remains his desired outcome, but it seems other dominoes will have to fall first.

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