NFL free agency is off and running, and we're keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2026 offseason, with analysis from our NFL nation reporters and grades from our experts.
The new league year began Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, which means free agents can now be signed. The first round of the 2026 NFL draft begins April 23 on ESPN.
Here's a breakdown of every 2026 NFL free agent signing by the Atlanta Falcons and how each will impact the upcoming season:
Brian Robinson Jr., RB
The former 49er signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million.
What it means: Atlanta signed Brian Robinson Jr. to replace Tyler Allgeier, who left for the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent. The Falcons needed someone reliable to spell Bijan Robinson when necessary and Brian Robinson fits the bill.
The addition fits what the new Atlanta regime has prioritized this offseason: value, upside and low risk. Brian Robinson, a 27-year-old who has eclipsed 700 yards three times and has 37 career starts, comes at a low price.
Trevor Siemian, QB
The former Titan signed a one-year deal.
What it means: Siemian is well-traveled, has 33 career starts and spent time in a quarterback room with Peyton Manning. That's not a bad guy for Michael Penix Jr. to be sharing a space with. The Falcons brought Tua Tagovailoa in as cheap competition for Penix and someone to get reps with Penix still recovering from a torn left ACL.
Signing Siemian as a potential mentor is a signal that the Falcons still believe Penix can become their franchise quarterback once he is healthy. Siemian also isn't a bad break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option. He has won 15 games as a starter in the NFL and has a season with more than 3,000 passing yards.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB
Tagovailoa signed a one-year deal for $1.3 million.
What it means: The Falcons could need a bridge for quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is still recovering from left ACL surgery. So why not Tagovailoa? He led the league in passing yards and made the Pro Bowl in 2023. In 2024, he led the league in completion percentage.
Yes, he struggled this past season and he had considerable injury issues with a history of concussions. But the Falcons are bringing him in for just one year and $1.3 million. The Dolphins took on a ton of dead money to release him. At worst, he's short-term help while Penix heals up. At best, he's someone who could compete with Penix, a fellow lefty, for the starting role.
More: Why Fins released Tua Tagovailoa; how he fits with Falcons
Jahan Dotson, WR
The former Eagle signed a two-year deal for $15 million.
What it means: One thing notably missing from the Falcons wide receiver room in 2025 was someone who could stretch defenses with speed. Dotson could fill that role next season with his 4.43-second 40-yard dash motor.
The Falcons have prioritized pass-catchers, signing wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, tight end Austin Hooper and now Dotson, a former first-round pick who won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. These might not be the splashiest acquisitions, but they complement wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. and add depth. Dotson also has upside at just 25 years old.
Jake Bailey, P
The former Dolphin signed a 3-year deal for $9 million.
What it means: The Falcons are completely revamping their special teams unit, which was one of the worst in the NFL last season. Punter Bradley Pinion was actually a bright spot for Atlanta in that department, as well as a team captain. But the Falcons will move on from him to add Bailey, who was an All-Pro punter in 2020 and has performed well for the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. Atlanta is signing Bailey for three years and $9 million.
Austin Hooper, TE
The former Patriot signed a one-year deal for $3.25 million.
What it means: Kevin Stefanski loves tight ends, and Matt Ryan is very familiar with Hooper, who was with the Falcons from 2016 to 2019. He was part of the Atlanta team that went to the Super Bowl.
Hooper had career-highs in catches (75) and receiving yards (787) in 2019 with Ryan throwing to him. Expect plenty of 12 personnel and maybe even 13 personnel with Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees pairing Hooper with the dynamic Kyle Pitts Sr.
Pass-catchers was one of the Falcons' top needs, and now they have two who Ryan trusts first-hand.
Cameron Thomas, DE
The former Brown signed a one-year deal for $3.1 million.
What it means: The Falcons have some question marks up front, including whether Arnold Ebiketie will be re-signed as an edge rusher and the future status of edge James Pearce Jr., who is facing five felony charges in a domestic-violence related situation in Florida.
Atlanta also lost defensive tackle David Onyemata to the New York Jets in free agency. Enter Thomas, a solid, versatile defensive end who spent the last two seasons with coach Kevin Stefanski with the Cleveland Browns. Thomas, who had 2.5 sacks last season as a rotational player, is a nice get for just one year and $3.1 million.
Da'Shawn Hand, DT
The former Charger signed a one-year deal worth $3 million.
What it means: If there was one thing the Falcons defense needed more than anything last season, it was a run-stopper in the middle of their line. Hand can fill that role right away. He had five tackles for a loss in each of the past two seasons and weighs in at more than 300 pounds at 6-foot-3. Hand has eight years of experience and started 13 games last season with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Channing Tindall, LB
The former Cardinal signed a one-year deal.
What it means: Atlanta fans will like this pickup because Tindall played at the University of Georgia and was a real prospect coming out of college. The Dolphins drafted him in the third round, though he was not an impact player in Miami or more recently with the Cardinals.
But, like with Christian Harris, this is representative of the Falcons wanting to add more speed and depth at off-ball linebacker with the loss of Kaden Elliss. At worst, Tindall can be a contributing special teams player. At best, he's an athlete at only 25 years old with the tools to help out Divine Deablo and Harris as an inside backer.
Christian Harris, LB
What it means: Could he be a replacement for Kaden Elliss, who has become one of the best blitzing off-ball linebackers in the league? Elliss could still re-sign with the Falcons, though it seems unlikely.
Harris, who had injury issues the last two seasons, might be at least given the chance to compete for a starting inside linebacker role. The Falcons surely hope he can have the kind of breakout season Divine Deablo did under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich last season. Harris, like Deablo, is a rangy former DB. His abilities fit very well into Ulbrich's scheme and defensive line coach Nate Ollie is familiar with Harris from the Houston Texans.
Olamide Zaccheaus, WR
What the signing means: The Falcons are expected to cut wide receivers Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge and they already had depth issues at the position in 2025. Zaccheaus brings exactly that: depth.
The Falcons will likely be rehauling their receivers room, building around Drake London. Zaccheaus could be a third or fourth receiver. He's a familiar face to the Falcons. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in Atlanta and had four solid years from 2019 to 2022, capped by a career-high 533 yards.
Oh, and by the way, his quarterback for three of those seasons? New Falcons president of football Matt Ryan.
Azeez Ojulari, LB
The former Eagle agreed to a one-year deal.
What it means: The Falcons are bringing home Ojulari, who played at Georgia for college and went to high school in Marietta. Atlanta will need help at edge rusher if it loses Arnold Ebiketie to free agency, especially with the looming criminal case against James Pearce Jr.
Ojulari had 22 sacks in five seasons with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. His 2025 campaign was cut short with injuries. But Ojulari seems likely to be in an edge-rusher rotation with Jalon Walker, the returning Bralen Trice and potentially fellow signee Cameron Thomas.
Nick Folk, K
The former Jet signed a two-year deal.
What it means: After going through three different kickers last season -- Younghoe Koo, Parker Romo and Zane Gonzalez -- the Falcons are bringing in the ever-consistent Folk, who will head into his 20th NFL season.
Folk, most recently with the Jets, has been the NFL's most accurate kicker over the last three seasons. Atlanta hopes he's a stabilizing force at the position. Folk has made 85% of his career field goals and has not been under 95% since 2022. New Falcons special teams coach Craig Aukerman had Folk in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans.
Corey Levin, C
The former Titan signed a one-year deal.
What it means: The pattern of the Falcons grabbing value players who are familiar to members of the staff continued with Levin, an interior offensive lineman who can compete with Ryan Neuzil for the starting center role.
Levin was coached by new offensive line coach Bill Callahan in Tennessee. Levin is also a Georgia native, growing up in Dacula, which is only about 30 minutes from Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch.
Chris Williams, DT
What it means: The Falcons are losing David Onyemata to the New York Jets and already needed depth on the interior of the defensive line even before that. Williams will bring that. He's a potential rotational player with Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus and Zach Harrison leading the way.
Williams played for Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland for one season and spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears, where new Falcons GM Ian Cunningham was in the front office.
LaCale London, DT
What it means: London was arguably the Falcons' most potent nose tackle last season. He had five sacks and seven tackles for a loss in 13 games, including five starts.
London is the first Falcons player from 2025 that the new staff has re-signed so far, which speaks to his value and Atlanta's need on the interior of the line. London thrived in defensive line coach Nate Ollie's attack-front system and Ollie will return this season, along with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
Samson Ebukam, DE
What it means: Like many of the Falcons' signings this week, this one has upside. Ebukam had 8.5 sacks for the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 before tearing an Achilles the following year and dealing with more injuries this past season. Expect Ebukam to challenge for an edge rusher rotation spot like Ojulari.
Atlanta must also continue to hedge its bets with regards to James Pearce Jr., who is facing five felony charges in Florida. At 30 years old with 35 sacks in eight seasons, Ebukam's signing is similar to the Falcons bringing in Leonard Floyd last season as a veteran mentor.
Tyler Goodson, RB
What it means: The Falcons have worked to fill out their running backs room, signing Brian Robinson Jr. and Goodson, a Georgia native who played the last three NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Goodson is another depth piece, who will probably compete for the third running back job with Nathan Carter and Carlos Washington Jr. He's also another player who will be expected to contribute on special teams, which the new Atlanta regime is revamping after a rough 2025.