Atlanta Falcons Bring Back Familiar Face to Add Edge Depth, According to Report

The Atlanta Falcons were heading into the offseason knowing they would have a lot of questions at edge rusher. Arnold Ebiketie, Leonard Floyd, Khalid Kareem, and DeAngelo Malone were all scheduled to be free agents.

The team's plans were further adjusted with the arrest of second-year edge James Pearce Jr., whose future remains uncertain.

However, the Falcons are bringing at least one of last year's veterans back. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, DeAngelo Malone is re-signing with the Falcons.

"Free agent linebacker DeAngelo Malone is returning to the Falcons on a one-year deal, per source," Fowler reported on X.

That he is returning to the Falcons for the offseason program doesn't necessarily mean Malone will make the team. Atlanta will have 90 players at the start of training camp, before paring the number down to 53 to start the season.

Atlanta signed Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, and Cameron Thomas in free agency to join 2024 first-round pick Jalon Walker. However, Walker could see some time at inside linebacker this year, filling the role of the departed Kaden Elliss.

Malone's versatility could give him a leg up when it comes to fighting for a roster spot this summer. Originally a third-round pick out of Western Kentucky in the 2022 NFL Draft, Malone never quite broke through, but he proved to be a valuable member of special teams during his rookie contract.

He also cross-trained at inside linebacker and provided some depth there over the last two seasons. He saw the least amount of action last season, playing only nine games after having missed only two games the previous three seasons combined.

Malone had arguably his best season as a rookie when he posted 29 tackles, a sack, and four tackles for loss. In four seasons with the Falcons, he has 59 tackles, three sacks, and seven tackles for loss.

In his nine games of action in 2025, he was used almost exclusively on special teams, with 185 of his 204 total snaps coming in the game's third phase.

In other news from Wednesday, the Falcons signed former Philadelphia Eagles executive Jeff Scott to be their new assistant general manager. Scott cut his teeth with Washington before spending five years with the Eagles as a pro scout. He did advanced scouting of the Eagles' opponents personnel scouting for potential free agents.

Former Falcons edge Arnold Ebiketie was taken in the second round the same year as Malone, and he signed as a free agent with the Eagles last month.

As it stands, the Falcons edge room shapes up like this: Jalon Walker, Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, Cameron Thomas, Bralen Trice, James Pearce Jr., and DeAngelo Malone.

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