When the 2026 league year begins March 11, the Atlanta Falcons could be active in free agency.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski, new president of football Matt Ryan and the yet-to-be-named general manager will begin assembling the roster for the upcoming season, with the hope they can field a team capable of competing right away.
One of the most important pieces of the offseason will be figuring out the quarterback position — not just for the 2026 season, but beyond. Although the Falcons will be without Michael Penix Jr. for the early part of the year, the future of the franchise is essentially riding on him becoming the quarterback Atlanta hoped it was getting when it drafted him No. 8 overall in 2024.
Penix can’t do it alone, though, which means he — whether it’s with Kirk Cousins or another veteran quarterback holding things down until he returns — will need playmakers around him. Atlanta already has key weapons in Bijan Robinson and Drake London, but if the Falcons want to be truly competitive, they’ll need to add more pieces, either through free agency or the draft.
If it’s in the draft, it won’t come in the first round, as Atlanta gave that pick up in the 2025 draft in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams to select James Pearce Jr. That makes free agency even more important — and one potential target could fit perfectly.
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Falcons Could Upgrade WR Room in Free Agency
One area that felt lacking for Atlanta in 2025 was wide receiver production. While London, Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts combined for 16 touchdowns in the passing game, the rest of the Falcons’ pass catchers scored just three times.
Robinson is electric out of the backfield, but he shouldn’t have to function as the team’s No. 2 receiver. Pitts is also on track to hit free agency, which could leave London as the only proven, productive receiver on the roster.
That’s why Pro Football Focus’ Mason Cameron pegged Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens as a potential fit for Atlanta.
“The 2026 season will prove to be an important crossroad for Michael Penix Jr.’s development as a passer,” Cameron wrote. “Despite leading the Power Four in deep completions his final year at Washington, Penix ranks just below the league average in percentage of attempts 20-plus yards downfield since entering the NFL. Pairing George Pickens with Drake London would create one of the NFL’s most electric receiver duos and set the young quarterback up for success.”
Could the Falcons Afford George Pickens?
Pickens definitely stood out with the Cowboys in what could end up being his lone season in Dallas. He put together a career year, finishing with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns — production that will only drive his price up.
Pickens will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026, and Spotrac lists his market value at $30.6 million per year. That projection would have the 24-year-old signing a four-year, $122.4 million contract.
Before the Falcons could even consider a deal like that, they would first have to create cap space. Right now, Atlanta sits in the middle of the pack at 15th in available cap space, currently $17.4 million over the cap.
If the Falcons want to clear room to potentially add a player like Pickens, there are a few obvious levers they could pull — including safety Jessie Bates III, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Charlie Woerner.
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