HEADLINES

Leroy Watson

Falcons Reduce Roster To 53

August 30th, 2022 at 3:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the deadline for teams to cut their rosters down to 53 players minutes away, the Falcons are the latest team to announce how they got there. Here are the moves Atlanta made to set its roster:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

A few of Atlanta’s offseason additions are no longer with the team. Former Arthur Smith Titans charges Firkser and Pruitt — each of whom being with Tennessee during the current Atlanta HC’s run as Titans tight ends coach — leave a young tight end group. It would not surprise if one of the two — if not both — were back, via a belated active-roster return or practice squad stash. The Falcons currently have Kyle Pitts, 2021 UDFA Parker Hesse and sixth-round rookie John FitzPatrick at tight end.

The team also signed Kwiatkoski this offseason, bringing him in along with a few ILB investments. But the former Bears and Raiders starter/depth piece is back in free agency. The Falcons still have Deion Jones rostered, despite trade rumors, and have former first-round Titans pick Rashaan Evans in place as well. The team also drafted Troy Andersen in Round 2 this year.

Falcons Sign 13 UDFAs

May 2nd, 2022 at 8:49pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons announced the signing of 13 undrafted free agents:

  • Jared Bernhardt, WR (Ferris State)
  • Stanley Berryhill, WR (Arizona)
  • Kuony Deng, OLB (California)
  • Matt Hankins, CB (Iowa)
  • Brad Hawkins, S (Michigan)
  • Timothy Horne, DL (Kansas State)
  • Tyshaun James, WR (Central Connecticut)
  • Nathan Landman, ILB (Colorado)
  • Bryce Rodgers, DL (UC-Davis)
  • Derrick Tangelo, DL (Penn State)
  • Seth Vernon, P (Portland State)
  • Tyler Vrabel, OL (Boston College)
  • Leroy Watson, TE (UT-San Antonio)

“We keep talking about our scouting staff and our coaches and all the work that goes into it, and they really grind through this free agency process as well,” GM Terry Fontenot said right after the draft (via Scott Bair of the team’s website). “So I know we are going to continue to add some good football players. We’re excited.

“Once they get here, it doesn’t matter how they got here. It’s competition at every position.”

Derrick Tangelo got some significant money from the organization. Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets that the defensive lineman got $55K guaranteed, including a $5K signing bonus. The rookie had 6.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss in five seasons split between Duke and Penn State.