Free agency and the NFL Draft bring a host of new players to the Atlanta Falcons, with new opportunities abounding for new additions. That does mean that some incumbent Falcons are going to have to fight for their jobs this summer, however, and some might have a very uphill sort of battle to wage.

Here are five players and a sizeable chunk of one position’s depth chart who may find themselves on the roster bubble, with fortunes ranging from “needs a good summer” to “needs a miracle.”

WR Casey Washington

He checks a lot of boxes for this list. Washington is a late draft pick from the former regime who got a bit of buzz as a sure-handed target with quality size and figured to push for WR4 over the long haul. Instead, he has just six catches for 94 yards over two seasons and 15 games, with numerous injuries that include multiple concussions and a back ailment along the way. He also hasn’t had much of a role on special teams.

If he’s totally healthy, Washington can push for WR5 duties with a strong summer, but the new regime has no attachments and he’s given them very little to consider to this point.

TE Charlie Woerner

In 2024, Woerner was a vital cog in the run game who paved the way effectively for Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Last year, his performance slipped a bit, and he’s now set to make nearly $6 million in 2026. With the Falcons bringing aboard bruising blocking tight end Brandon Frazier in their undrafted free agent class, and with the team’s ability to save $4.75 million by cutting ties with Woerner, his position on the depth chart is far from guaranteed. He needs an absolutely stellar summer to ensure he sticks around.

T Jack Nelson

Last year’s seventh round pick no longer has the coaching staff and front office that drafted him around, most notably offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, and played just four snaps in 2025. The Falcons have imported Ethan Onianwa (who is probably moving to guard but could play tackle) and hulking tackle Riley Mahlmann, and so Nelson will be battling for a spot with Storm Norton and Mike Jerrell also pushing for spots. I hope he can make it—I think he’s promising—but it’s far from guaranteed.

EDGE Bralen Trice

It’s a numbers game, and Trice simply hasn’t been healthy to this point. A very productive college pass rusher with the size and willingness to be a capable run defender, Trice seemed like great value in the third round of the 2024 draft, but has yet to appear in a regular season NFL game.

A looming James Pearce Jr. suspension may help keep him on the roster, but the Falcons added Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, and Cameron Thomas and still have DeAngelo Malone around as a potential core special teams guy. Trice has to be healthy this year to stick.

ILB Troy Andersen

Andersen has proven he can play at a high level, if only in short stretches, but faces the same roster calculus as Andersen. The Falcons have Divine Deablo, signed Christian Harris to compete for a starting job and Channing Tindall as a special teamer, and drafted both Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr. at linebacker.

If he’s fully healthy, Andersen’s coverage ability alone will give him an inside track to a roster spot, and he’ll be in the mix to start with Harris and Daniels. At this point, as you’ve noticed from my post-draft comments hyping Daniels for a starting job, I have my doubts that will happen. Given that a truly healthy Andersen is also unquestionably one of this team’s better linebackers, I still hope it will happen.

CBs Clark Phillips/Natrone Broooks/C.J. Henderson/Mike Ford Jr./Cobee Bryant

The cornerback corps is heavy with options, and it’s likely to cost multiple roster stalwarts jobs this summer.

Phillips has been either hurt or buried on the depth chart during much of his three year run in Atlanta, Brooks and Ford are here chiefly for their special teams value, and Henderson and Bryant are well-liked by this defensive staff but facing fierce competition. In addition to Avieon Terrell, the Falcons traded for Sydney Brown and signed Darnay Holmes in the offseason, and I’d bet heavily on the Falcons locking in the two Terrells, Mike Hughes, Billy Bowman Jr., and Brown as their top five options at cornerback. That leaves likely one roster spot and some practice squad openings for five players, so a couple of roster stalwarts are almost certainly headed elsewhere this year.

Who else do you see being on the roster bubble this summer?