A Surprise Cut Creates Another Major Gap on the Atlanta Falcons Roster
As the days toward the start of a new NFL year dwindle, the Atlanta Falcons roster continues to be in flux. Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham is already making substantial roster cuts that would drastically change the outlook of the Falcons' next season. With Cunningham already announcing the departure of quarterback Kirk Cousins, fellow 2024 free agent signing Darnell Mooney seems to be next on the chopping block. Mooney is set to be cut by the start of the new NFL year on March 11th, leaving Atlanta with another hole on their roster that needs to be addressed. Regardless of whether they come in free agency or the draft, Cunningham will need to find another wide receiver to not only fill a hole but to help with the messy quarterback situation that Atlanta will also need to address during the offseason. With no reliable wide receiver outside of Drake London, Mooney’s cut seems to only amplify another dire need for the Falcons' floundering passing offense.
Mooney signed a three-year, $39 million contract in 2024 that Atlanta will move on from a year before it was set to expire. The contract seemed like a great deal at the time it was signed. The former Chicago Bear lived up to the billing, putting together a productive 64-reception, 992-yard, five-touchdown campaign in the 2024 season. However, untimely drops and a lack of chemistry with both of Atlanta’s starting quarterbacks resulted in a disappointing year for a player of his caliber. The former fifth-round pick finished the 2025 season with 32 receptions for 443 yards and one touchdown, a sharp decline from his productive 2024 campaign. Mooney was underwhelming for the Falcons last year, and his presence alongside the aforementioned Cousins release only magnifies the failures of Atlanta’s 2024 offseason. His departure will save Atlanta roughly seven million dollars, with 11 million in dead money counting toward the salary cap.
Cunningham’s gameplan is to start with the trenches and work his way up, but what does that mean for a nonexistent receiving core outside of Drake London? Despite all of the big-name wide receiver movement, the realistic options for Atlanta seem along the lines of low-end twos or high-end threes as opposed to a significant upgrade at the wide receiver position. “The stopgap class,” as one NFL executive put it. The good news is that, despite most signings likely being stopgaps, there’s a wide array of receiving talent to choose from that can help the Falcons' offense in the short term. Veteran options such as Marquise Brown or Deebo Samuel would provide speed that contrasts with London’s more physical skill set. Cunningham could potentially take a flyer on young players fresh off their rookie deals, such as Jahan Dotson or Wan’Dale Robinson. The latter showed significant improvements since his rookie year, with career highs in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns during his 2025 season with the New York Giants.
More good news for Atlanta is the 2026 receiver class looking deep. Cunningham and the scouting team can still find a productive target despite not owning their first-round pick this year. Six-foot-five prospect out of Tennessee, Chris Brazzell II, could be the big-bodied burner on the opposite side of Drake London that Atlanta needs to fill their wide receiver two spot. His size and speed could open up the offense for Drake London and Kyle Pitts and provide quality blocking for all-pro running back Bijan Robinson. University of Georgia standout Zachariah Branch could be another receiver that could fall into Atlanta’s lap come day two. The speedster is shifty in his routes and could also provide the Falcons with some much-needed help at special teams as well. He is also a player the scouting team has kept an eye on during the NFL combine.
