FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Guess it's my turn to take a whack at this.
Before naming the 53 players I believe will make the Atlanta Falcons' initial roster, I am going to capitalize on two NFL rules that will help open a few spots. Things have changed slightly since my coworkers, Tori McElhaney and Will McFadden, made their predictions, and that information helps clarify how I will use these rules. This will make my life a little easier because it sure was difficult to make certain cuts.
First off, inside linebacker Troy Andersen, who has been on the Physically Unable to Perform list since training camp began, will go on the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns. He'll have to miss the first four games of the season but won't count toward the 53-man limit. I make this decision because last Wednesday head coach Raheem Morris said he feels good about Andersen's progress but cannot definitively say whether he'll be ready for Week 1. Considering Andersen hasn't practiced once, I don't see how he can be.
Then, offensive tackles Kaleb McGary and Storm Norton will be placed in the two "injured reserve – designated to return" slots, which is available for players to bypass waivers and go straight to IR during roster cutdowns. They'll have to miss four games. But I make this decision about McGary after Morris said as much will happen last Friday when providing the update that McGary will miss significant time with a leg injury. And I make this decision about Norton after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last Wednesday that Norton underwent ankle surgery and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Even if it's not that long, the timelines work well together.
Those moves open three spots for players who are healthy and able to play on Sept. 7 when Atlanta kicks off its 2025 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. So, without further ado, let's get to my 53-man roster projection for the Falcons.
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks (3)
Michael Penix Jr. | Kirk Cousins | Easton Stick
These three feel like a given, especially if the Falcons think there's any chance they could trade Kirk Cousins early into the season. Easton Stick has history as a backup and showed this preseason he can operate Atlanta's offense. Keeping Stick means the backup plan even has a backup plan. And this way, there's no risk of losing Stick to another team.
Running backs (3)
Bijan Robinson | Tyler Allgeier | Carlos Washington Jr.
To be completely honest, before the Falcons revealed their initial wave of cuts, I only had Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier listed above. I was OK with compromising on offense so the defense could keep all its depth. Well, after defensive lineman Morgan Fox was released, I circled back and added Carlos Washington Jr. here. He was having such a strong training camp before his hamstring injury that I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt, much like I do with wide receiver Darnell Mooney, which you'll see in the next section. As for Nathan Carter, an undrafted free agent who stepped up in Washington’s absence, get him more experience on the practice squad and elevate him when he's ready. Considering they were both undrafted free agents, Carter could take notes from Washington's career path.
Wide receivers (6)
Drake London | Darnell Mooney | Ray-Ray McCloud III | KhaDarel Hodge | Casey Washington | David Sills V
Before last Friday's injury update on McGary, I went back and forth on whether to put Darnell Mooney in one of the "injured reserve – designated to return" slots due to his shoulder injury. However, I decided not to even before the news because of how Morris phrased his latest update on Mooney. Morris said last Wednesday the Falcons "got at least another week to hold on for him." To me, that sounds like Mooney has been on a "better safe than sorry" plan for the preseason. Although he hasn't participated since getting hurt, Mooney has been present at practice in street clothes. The same can't be said about a lot of the other injured players. I'm choosing to be optimistic about Mooney's return.
Speaking of choices, I chose David Sills V over Jamal Agnew. Sills has had more of a standout training camp, really making splash plays on the offense. The fact Morris said he wanted Sills to get special teams reps in exhibition makes me think he, along with the rest of the coaching staff, needed to confirm Sills could be an asset there, too. That was always a given for Agnew, who's a well-known returner. But Sills ultimately gets the nod here because he has proven to be helpful on both offense and special teams.
Tight ends (3)
Kyle Pitts | Charlie Woerner | Teagan Quitoriano
I debated picking only two tight ends, like I did with the running backs. Again, the thought there being that the offense must make sacrifices for the defense. But given the recent injury news with the offensive line, having another big body like Teagan Quitoriano available to block like Charlie Woerner does was too appealing. I went with Quitoriano over Feleipe Franks, too, just because the former seemed to have received more first-team reps during training camp.
Offensive line (7)
Jake Matthews | Matthew Bergeron | Ryan Neuzil | Chris Lindstrom | Elijah Wilkinson | Jovaughn Gwyn | Jack Nelson
Elijah Wilkinson easily makes the cut because he filled in for McGary immediately after he was carted off the practice field last Wednesday and because – oddly enough – he did not play in the preseason finale out of precaution last Friday. Putting two and two together, he's the next man up with Norton also out. Rookie draft pick Jack Nelson has history playing guard and tackle, so he can be developed and maybe be a backup option, too. Jovaughn Gwyn, meanwhile, has played center and guard. The Falcons need a center backup since last season's, Ryan Neuzil, is now the starter. Basically, these latter two ensure there's a depth piece at any position.
DEFENSE
Interior defensive line (7)
David Onyemata | Zach Harrison | Ruke Orhorhoro | Brandon Dorlus | Ta'Quon Graham | Kentavius Street | LaCale London
Like I mentioned earlier with the running back, I had Fox listed above until Saturday's first wave of cuts. That move surprised me. Either way, the following still remains true: I could not keep up with the rotation along the defensive line during training camp. Players were in and out, in and out, in and out before I could write down full lineups. So, for that reason, I'm essentially keeping everyone I wrote down with the first-team defense. Or at least those I saw the most.
Edge rusher (6)
Leonard Floyd | Arnold Ebiketie | James Pearce Jr. | Jalon Walker | Bralen Trice | Khalid Kareem
Much like with the interior of the defensive line, the attack-style front has led to a lot of rotation on the exterior, too. The first four names don't need an explanation. Bralen Trice was the standout name early last year, but a season-ending injury derailed his potential. It's still there, only now he is in a much more crowded room and may be just a solid depth piece for that reason. I picked Khalid Kareem because I know firsthand how hard he has been working this offseason and preseason to be in peak shape for the season. That story will be published Monday, so stay tuned and just believe me for now.
Inside linebackers (5)
Kaden Elliss | Divine Deablo | JD Bertrand | Josh Woods | DeAngelo Malone
Josh Woods fills the void left behind by Andersen. Woods played in all three preseason games, starting solo or alongside JD Bertrand. So, he's a ready-to-go depth piece. DeAngelo Malone, meanwhile, is a defensive work in progress. He makes the cut not only because he is, as Morris said, a "barnyard bully when it comes to special teams," but also because he has been cross-training inside in addition to his normal outside role along the defensive line. I want to see how the development goes.
Cornerbacks (6)
A.J. Terrell Jr. | Mike Hughes | Dee Alford | Billy Bowman Jr. | Clark Phillips III | Natrone Brooks
I was torn between Natrone Brooks and C.J. Henderson but ultimately chose Brooks despite Henderson's resume. We just didn't see enough of Henderson in Atlanta, whereas Brooks had a strong training camp from start to finish. Brooks also paid his dues last season when he was elevated from the practice squad the max of three times and was signed to the active roster. He played in nine games overall, including the final four. My thought is he can pick up where he left off with even more confidence after the preseason he has had.
Safety (4)
Jessie Bates III | Jordan Fuller | DeMarcco Hellams | Xavier Watts
This was the easiest position group on defense to decide upon. The only real question that remains is: Who will start opposite Jessie Bates III? Will it be fellow veteran Jordan Fuller who signed as a free agent? Or what about third-year DeMarcco Hellams who's back from last season’s injury? Or could it even be rookie Xavier Watts who was drafted in the third round earlier this year? All three took reps with the first team during training camp, so now it'll just come down to Week 1's lineup.
Special teams (3)
Kicker: Younghoe Koo | Punter: Bradley Pinion | Long snapper: Liam McCullough
Veteran Younghoe Koo proved this preseason the hip injury that landed him on injured reserve in Week 16 last season is no longer bothersome. Therefore, he retains his position. If rookie Lenny Krieg clears waivers, though, the Falcons can – and should – sign him to their practice squad with the International Player Pathway exemption, meaning he doesn't count toward the 16-player limit but can be elevated just the same. It'd be a good opportunity to develop Krieg and have him around if something were to happen with Koo.
