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Falcons Underrated Free Agent Signing Made Significant Impact During Minicamp
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- Falcons Underrated Free Agent Signing Made Significant Impact During Minicamp
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Atlanta Falcons have wrapped up their mandatory minicamp and all systems are a go headed into training camp next month with the squad hungry to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in 2026.
Unlike a lot of teams who are having to do a full and complete multi-year rebuild led by their new head coach, Atlanta looks a whole lot more ready to win now and despite the restart has one of the better rosters in the league. With an elite core on offense, a top-10 offensive line and a strong defense, there's not much reason why this team can't win now.
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For that to happen, the stars will have to be stars, but perhaps just as if not more important is guys who people don't see coming stepping up in a big way as well. There's a few candidates there, but one is a new face who was acquired in free agency who made a big impression during minicamp.
According to some observations from Will McFadden of Falcons.com , he pointed out Samson Ebukam 's impact and mentioned how he could become a key piece.
Samson Ebukam Impressed at Falcons Minicamp
"Defensive end Samson Ebukam had one rep where he was in the backfield in a blink," McFadden wrote. "We won't get a good sense of Atlanta's trench play until pads come on, but Ebukam could be a pleasant surprise for the defense."
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Ebukam was brought to Atlanta on a one-year contract worth just under $2.8 million, and while the signing went a bit under the radar, clearly this is someone the new front office valued when they decided he was going to be a name they added to the depth chart.
Since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams , the 31-year-old Nigeria native has found a way to stick around in this league. He played for the Rams through 2020 before finding a new home with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 and 2022.
From there, Ebukam spent three more seasons with the Indianapolis Colts before hitting free agency again and winding up with the Falcons. He is just two years removed from a career season in which he had 9.5 sacks for the Colts and has racked up 35 of them throughout his career.
With James Pearce Jr. potentially on the shelf for a significant chunk of the season due to suspension, someone like Ebukam is clearly capable of stepping into a significant rotational role and potentially giving Atlanta some very strong snaps.
As training camp approaches at the end of July, Ebukam is a name who fans should have circled to see how he translates into the Falcons defense and whether or not he is a viable option.
