Atlanta Falcons Roster Predictions: 53-Man, Practice Squad

The Falcons must trim their 80 player roster to 53 by Tuesday afternoon.

Falcon Report Staff | Aug 30, 2021

All NFL teams must cut their rosters from 80 players to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday, and the Atlanta Falcons have lots of difficult decisions to make.

We take a look at what the 53-man roster could look like tomorrow evening, including players the Falcons would likely want to keep on the 16-man practice squad.

FINAL ROSTER

Quarterback (2)
Matt Ryan, Josh Rosen

Running Back (5)
Mike Davis, Cordarrelle Patterson, Qadree Ollison, Caleb Huntley (Cut 8/31), Keith Smith (FB)

Wide Receiver (5)
Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, Olamide Zaccheaus, Christian Blake, Chris Rowland (Cut Aug. 30)

Tight End (4)
Kyle Pitts, Hayden Hurst, Lee Smith, Parker Hesse

Offensive Line (9)
Jake Matthews, Jason Spriggs, Josh Andrews, Matt Hennessy, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom, Jalen Mayfield, Kaleb McGary, Willie Beavers (Cut 8/31)

Defensive Line (6)
Grady Jarrett, Marlon Davidson, Tyeler Davison, Ta’Quon Graham, Jonathan Bullard, John Cominsky

Linebacker (9)
Dante Fowler Jr., Brandon Copeland, Adetokunbo Ogundeji, Deion Jones, Mykal Walker, Foyesade Oluokun, Emmanuel Ellerbee, Steven Means, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner

Cornerback (6)
A.J. Terrell, Fabian Moreau, Isaiah Oliver, Darren Hall, Kendall Sheffield, Avery Williams

Safety (4)
Erik Harris, Duron Harmon, Jaylinn Hawkins, Richie Grant

Specialists (3)
Younghoe Koo, Cameron Nizialek, Josh Harris

PRACTICE SQUAD

Once the Falcons make their cuts, they will have the opportunity to fill their 16-player practice squad. Not every player cut will be offered a spot on the practice squad, and some will be claimed by other teams once they are cut. Here is a look at 16 young players the Falcons would be interested in keeping on the practice squad.

QB: Feleipe Franks
WR: Juwan Green
WR: Frank Darby
TE: John Raine
WR: Tajae Sharpe
OL: Kion Smith
OL: Ryan Neuzil
OL: Joe Sculthorpe
DL: Chris Slayton
DL: Zac Dawe (Cut 8/30)
OLB: Kobe Jones (Cut 8/30)
LB: Dorian Etheridge
LB: Erroll Thompson
CB: Chris Williamson
S: Dwayne Johnson Jr. (Cut 8/30)
S: JR Pace

Etheridge and Williamson are two of the players who have looked the best during the preseason, but they could be caught up in a numbers game. Etheridge is a rookie and Williamson is in his second year, so the Falcons might hope they can sneak them through waivers and onto the practice squad.

Darby could make the 53-man roster. He was the Falcons last draft pick in April, and he has had good moments during camp. But he could be a victim of Smith's tight end heavy offense. The Falcons took six wide receivers on their opening day roster last year and only three tight ends.

CUTS

There will be several veterans who likely wouldn't be interested in a spot on the practice squad and could be released outright.

RB: D’Onta Foreman
WR: Trevor Davis
WR: Antonio Nunn
TE: David Wells
OL: Sam Jones
DL: Eli Ankou (Cut 8/30)
LB: Tuzar Skipper (Cut 8/30)
CB: Delrick Abrams Jr.
S: T.J. Green
P: Dom Maggio

Published Aug 30, 2021

FALCON REPORT STAFF