The Atlanta Falcons added 11 new free agents ahead of the first weekend of the new league year, general manager Ian Cunningham said on Mar. 17. The team is working to strengthen its roster under new head coach Kevin Stefanski and Cunningham, focusing on both depth and experience.
Cunningham said the goal for this free agency period was to “elevate our floor” by bringing in players with starting experience who can contribute immediately if needed. “Adding depth pieces, but also players that have had starting experience that could start and that have shown that they’re able to start in this league. … We’re happy that we were able to get the players that we were able to acquire the last few days. We were really looking for value across the fronts and throughout the roster,” Cunningham said.
The Falcons’ approach included signing a mix of high-profile draft picks like wide receiver Jahan Dotson and defensive end Azeez Ojulari, as well as undrafted or late-round players such as Chris Williams and Corey Levin, some of whom have ties to current coaching staff members. Many contracts are reportedly one-year deals, which Cunningham said allows players to compete for meaningful playing time while keeping financial flexibility due to limited cap space. “Giving guys a chance to come here, compete, play meaningful snaps to potentially help them in their career, but also, most importantly, help us this season,” he said.
Atlanta has narrowly missed playoff appearances in recent seasons despite finishing with identical records as division rivals Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025. NFL tiebreaker rules placed them third in the NFC South division standings. The Falcons compete in the National Football League’s NFC South division according to the official website.
The franchise has reached the Super Bowl twice—in 1998 and 2016—and began as an expansion team in 1965 according to the official website. The team is based in Atlanta, Georgia according to the official website, where Freddie the Falcon serves as mascot according to the official website.
Looking ahead, Cunningham expressed optimism about how these moves position Atlanta for success: “For the fans, I’m excited,” he said. “We all are excited. We feel like we got better this week. Like I said, we’ve elevated our floor, but we’ve also got players that are coming in here ready to prove themselves, to showcase their ability and help our team for the now and in the future.”
