Atlanta Falcons 2026 Free Agency Tracker, Falcons Add Pair of Former Georgia Bulldogs

With more than half the team expected to hit free agency next week, the Atlanta Falcons and their new regime will be incredibly busy in March as the NFL Draft looms at the end of April.

Atlanta has a new coach in Kevin Stefanski and a new general manager in Ian Cunningham. They'll have their work cut out for them as they try to acquire a veteran quarterback, upgrade a woefully short on talent wide receiver room, add depth at linebacker and in the defensive backfield, and generally improve the depth of the squad.

The Falcons also confirmed they will cut quarterback Kirk Cousins before March 13th and take on $35 million in dead money. That salary cap hit can be spread across two seasons and is subject to a rebate of up to $10 million if Cousins signs with another team. Cousins' total compensation from the Falcons would be two years and $90 million, being named the worst free agent contract of all-time by BetGM.

Atlanta Falcons Free Agency News and Rumors

3/12

2:30 p.m. The Cardinals announced they signed RB Tyler Allgeier. That was expected; they came to terms on a 2-year, $12.5 million deal on Monday, but they also announced they signed former Falcons OL Elijah Richardson. Richardson was a reserve guard who was forced into action at right tackle for the entire 2025 season after Kaleb McGary had a knee injury at camp and swing tackle Storm Norton went from day-to-day in training camp, to out for the season in a matter of days.

McGary is expected to return to his right tackle spot in 2026, while Norton is still a free agent.

10:25 a.m. The team announced they had re-signed defensive lineman LaCale London. London was a key part of the rotation at defensive tackle. Earlier this week they came to terms with former Bears DL Chris Williams.

London had a breakout season with the Falcons last year with 30 tackles and five sacks after spending the previous four seasons bouncing around practice squads in the NFL.

8:00 a.m. According to Tom Pelissero, former reserve offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwin is joining the Ravens on a one-year deal. Dwayne Ledford, the Falcons former OL coach, is also in Baltimore this season.

3/11 New League Year Begins Today

6:30 p.m. Atanta signed former Tennessee Titans reserve center Corey Levin on a one-year deal. Levin and new offensive line coach Bill Callahan have a history together. Levin will provide depth and be a backup to starting center Ryan Neuzil.

3:42 p.m. The Falcons are adding their second former Georgia Bulldog of the day, signing edge rusher Azeez Ojulari to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport. Atlanta agreed to terms with linebacker Channing Tindall earlier in the day.

Ojulari was originally a second-round pick of the New York Giants in 2021. He had 22 sacks in four years with the Giants, but only saw action in three games with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.

With Arnold Ebiketie and Leonard Floyd hitting free agency, and the questions around the future of James Pearce Jr., edge rusher became a huge need for the Falcons in 2026.

2:45 p.m. Some depth on the defensive line is being added. According to Adam Schefter, the Falcons are signing former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Chris Williams. He was part of the Bears' rotation the last two seasons and had 14 tackles and a sack in 14 games.

1:15 p.m. The Falcons are signing former Georgia Bulldogs standout Channing Tindall to a one-year deal. Adam Schefter was first with the news. This isn't a replacement for Kaden Elliss, but rather, further down the roster as a possible special teams contributor.

8:30 p.m. Spotrac first reported that the Falcons will be restructuring the contract of offensive tackle Jake Matthews, clearing $10.5 million in salary cap space for 2026. This ties the Falcons to Matthew for 2026 and 2027, with the financial flexibility to move on from him in 2028, if they deem that necessary.

3/10 Day 2 of Contact Period

6:30 p.m. Linebacker Kaden Elliss is returning to the New Orleans Saints, according to Ian Rapoport,

"The Saints are adding a lynchpin on defense, signing former #Falcons LB Kaden Elliss, sources say," Rapoport wrote on X. "He gets a 3-year, $33M deal with $23M guaranteed in a deal done by agents Malki Kawa and Ethan Lock of First Round Mgmt. Max value is nearly $39M."

Elliss came from the Saints in 2023 on a three-year, $21 million deal and nearly doubles his money returning to the Big Easy. In his three seasons with Atlanta, he played in all 51 games and posted 380 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and added two interceptions.

The Falcons are signing former Texans linebacker Christian Harris, and he'll get a shot to start, but they'll need to add more via free agency or the NFL Draft before next season.

1:25 p.m. After signing Nick Folk, it was clear kicker Zane Gonzalez would not be back for the Falcons. His agent announced on X that he was signing a one-year deal with the Dolphins.

3/9 Free Agency Contact Period Opens

7:24 p.m. The Falcons have gotten a veteran linebacker. According to Cameron Wolfe, Atlanta has come to terms with former Texans linebacker Christian Harris. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the 25-year-old had 11 tackles in a reserve role for the Texans in 2025.

5:45 p.m. Nickel corner Dee Alford is getting a bag from the Buffalo Bills. According to Jeremy Fowler, Alford is getting a three-year deal worth up to $21 million, with $10 million guaranteed. Alford backed up rookie Billy Bowman Jr. before Bowman was injured. When Alford stepped into Jeff Ulbrich's aggressive defense, he was very good.

4:39 p.m. The Falcons have come to terms with former Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, according to multiple reports. The Dolphins took on a $100 million dead cap hit when they released him, $67.5 million this year alone.

Because of the offset language in his contract, any money that Tagovailoa makes goes back to the Dolphins. So, he'll play for the Falcons for $1.3 million in 2026, and seek a new contract in 2027.

Tagovailoa will compete with incumbent lefty Michael Penix Jr. for the starting position.

4:07 p.m. The Falcons announced the release of wide receivers Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge, both expected.

However, they also announced a restructuring of linebacker Troy Andersen's contract. Andersen was set to be a free agent in 2026, but having missed all of 2025 on the PUP List, his contract didn't toll... meaning, his fourth year didn't count. He was due $1.53 million. Terms of the restructure were not disclosed, but it stands to reason his cap number will lessen slightly.

He'll get another year to try and get on the field after missing the last season and a half with knee injuries.

3:44 p.m. Atlanta is adding former Browns defensive end Cameron Thomas on a one-year, $3.1 million deal, according to Adam Schefter. Thomas was originally a third-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2022 NFL Draft. He's played with the Browns the last two seasons and had 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2025.

3:14 p.m. John Franklin-Myers, the top defensive line prospect in free agency, is going to the Tennessee Titans, according to Tom Pelissero. He will sign a three-year deal worth up to$63 million ($42 million guaranteed). The Titans had the most salary cap room in the NFL heading into the window, and they could win any bidding war.

2:17 p.m. Former Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle David Onyemata is headed to the New York Jets, first reported by Mike Garafolo. It's a one-year $10.5 million deal for him. Onyemata spent three years with the Falcons after being signed from the Saints by former general manager Terry Fontenot.

Depending on what the Falcons do during free agency, Onyemata could qualify for a 2027 comp pick to Atlanta.

2:03 p.m. Earlier in the day, the Falcons came to terms with Olamide Zaccheaus, but he wasn't going to be the No. 2 wide receiver they need, so we knew they weren't done. Adam Schefter reports Atlanta has come to terms with former Philadelphia Eagles wideout Jahan Dotson on a two-year deal worth up to $17 million, including $10 million guaranteed.

Dotson will be expected to compete for the No. 2 spot vacated by Darnell Mooney last year. He was 5'11 and 178 pounds with a 4.43 at the 2022 NFL Combine. He had back-to-back 500+ yard seasons in his first two years in the league, but his production tailed off with the arrival of A.J. Brown.

1:46 p.m. Mike Garafolo is reporting that former Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier is signing with the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year, $12.25 million deal. Allgeier set the Falcons rookie rushing record in 2022 before deputizing Bijan Robinson the last three years. He heads to Arizona with a new contract and plenty of tread on the tires.

1:30 p.m. Special teams were a disaster for the Falcons in 2025, and the new regime is overhauling the kicking department. Adam Schefter reported the Falcons are signing former Dolphins punter Jake Bailey to a three-year deal worth up to $9 million ($5 million guaranteed).

Tom Pelissero reports Atlanta is signing Nick Folk to a two-year deal, with terms undisclosed. Folk is 41, but he was 28/29 for the Jets last year, including 7/7 from 50+.

1:07 p.m. The Falcons are bringing back another familiar face at tight end. Ian Rapoport reported that the Falcons are bringing in Austin Hooper on a one-year, $3.25 million deal. Hooper spent his first-four seasons with the Falcons, and like many former Falcons, Hooper never replicated the success he had with Matt Ryan.

Hooper made back-to-back Pro Bowls with the Falcons in 2018 and 2019 with 660 and 787 yards, respectively. He never broke 500 yards again in the next six seasons with four different teams.

The move calls into question the future of tight end Charlie Woerner, who we listed as one of our cut candidates in January.

12:05 p.m. Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus is returning to Atlanta. Tom Pelissero was first with the news. Zaccheaus (28) played four seasons. He left as a free agent in 2023 and played with the Bears last season. He had 39 catches for 313 yards and two touchdowns and adds veteran depth to a room badly in need of some.

11:35 a.m. Within seconds of one another, heavy hitters Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Adam Schefter reported that the Falcons are zeroing in on former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

The Falcons are building their offense for lefty Michael Penix Jr., who is recovering from ACL surgery. Now lefty Tua Tagovailoa appears poised to join him in Atlanta on a minimum deal. https://t.co/s8L7ccLyK8
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2026

9:00 a.m. It was expected, but the Dolphins announced they will be releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. They're taking on a record $100 million dead cap hit, and because of offset language in his contract, the team he signs with in 2026 will get him for the league minimum ($1.3 million).

7:00 a.m. In a bit of a surprise move, the Bengals are not tendering backup quarterback Jake Browning, giving the Falcons another option for a veteran quarterback with starting experience.

3/5 The Falcons are making the obvious move of cutting underperforming wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Mooney was scheduled to carry an $18.4 million cap hit in 2026. The Falcons will save $7.4 million this season if they take on all of his dead money now, and up to $11.9 million if they designate him a post-June 1 release.

3/3 It's not just Kirk Cousins that is a high-dollar cut about to happen. The Cardinals are heavily rumored to be moving on from Kyler Murray. Naturally, the Falcons are linked with every veteran quarterback who can still walk and chew gum at the same time.

3/1 ESPN's Jeremy Fowler was told by an NFL Coach to "watch for Tua (Tagovailoa) in Atlanta"

3/1 That same piece has Kaden Elliss going from the Falcons to the Panthers.

2/28 Atlanta has been a popular prediction for Broncos' DL John Franklin-Myers. However, the price tag on him could be in the $20 million range.

Incoming Atlanta Falcons Free Agents

Name	Position	Former	Details*
Tua Tagovailoa	QB	Dolphins	1 year, $1.3M
Olamide Zaccheaus	WR	Bears	Undisclosed
Jahan Dotson	WR	Eagles	2 years, $17M
Corey Levin	OC	Titans	1 Year, Undisclosed
Chris Williams	DT	Bears	1 year, $2M
Azeez Ojulari	Edge	Eagles	1 year, Undisclosed
Christian Harris	LB	Texans	Undisclosed
Channing Tindall	LB	Cardinals	1 year, Undisclosed
Cameron Thomas	DE	Browns	1 year, $3.1M
Austin Hooper	TE	Patriots	1 year, $3.25M
Jake Bailey	P	Dolphins	3 years, $9M
Nick Folk	K	Jets	Undisclosed

*New Deals cannot be signed until Wednesday

Atlanta Falcons 2026 Free Agents

Name	Position	Status
Dee Alford	CB	Bills: 3 years, $21M
Tyler Allgeier	RB	Cardinals: 2 years, $12.5M
Troy Andersen	LB	Falcons: Restructure
Natrone Brooks	CB
Kirk Cousins	QB	Released: Post June 1 Des.
Arnold Ebiketie	Edge
Kaden Elliss	LB	Saints: 3 years, $39M
Leonard Floyd	Edge
Feleipe Franks	TE
Elijah Garcia	DL
Zane Gonzalez	K	Dolphins, 1-Year
Jovaughn Gwyn	OL	Ravens, 1-Year
Ronnie Harrison	S
Malik Heath	WR
Khalid Kareem	Edge
KhaDarel Hodge	WR	Released
LaCale London	DL	Re-Signed
DeAngelo Malone	Edge
Darnell Mooney	WR	Released
David Onyemata	DL	Jets: 1-Year, $10.5M
Bradley Pinion	P
Kyle Pitts	TE	Franchise Tag
Teagan Quitoriano	TE
Sam Roberts	DL
David Sills	WR
Easton Stick	QB
Kentavius Street	DL
Tyrone Wheatley Jr.	OL
Elijah Wilkinson	OL	Cardinals: 1 Year
Josh Woods	LB

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