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NFL analyst names Falcons' biggest remaining roster issue
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- NFL analyst names Falcons' biggest remaining roster issue
NFL training camp is nearly here, and the Atlanta Falcons have plenty of work to do once the players arrive in Flowery Branch next week. Head coach Kevin Stefanski will attempt to lead this team to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, but first, he must figure out who his starting quarterback will be.
Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa will battle for the QB1 job during training camp, and while many in the media are rightfully focused on this quarterback competition, there are other areas on the roster with some legit question marks at the moment.
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Aside from the heavily documented lack of depth at the wide receiver position, the Falcons have some uncertainty along their defensive line as well. A new feature from NFL.com highlighted the biggest remaining roster issue for each NFC team.
The interior defensive line was listed as Atlanta's biggest question mark ahead of training camp.
" David Onyemata and Ruke Orhorhoro led Atlanta's defensive tackles in snaps in 2025 and both departed this offseason, leaving Brandon Dorlus , Maason Smith (swapped for Orhorhoro in a trade with Jacksonville ), Zach Harrison and a handful of free-agent additions -- most notably ninth-year veteran Da'Shawn Hand -- to pick up the slack," wrote Matt Okada . "Dorlus was decent last year, but the loss of Onyemata and the lack of game-changing talent at the position could be the weak link in an otherwise ascending Falcons defense."
It's true that the Falcons don't have much depth at defensive tackle, and they did little to replace Onyemata. Da'Shawn Hand is a capable space-eater, but he lacks the pass-rushing chops and isn't as well-rounded as Onyemata.
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As for Maason Smith, he essentially fell out of the rotation in Jacksonville last season. The Falcons will look to get more out of the former second-round pick in 2026. The forgotten man here is LaCale London , who quietly had a career season in 2025.
Dorlus still has some work to do before he becomes a household name, however, his 8.5 sacks last season warrant a slightly better description than "decent." The former fourth-round pick out of Oregon is a bit undersized to play the nose, but he has a ton of upside as 3-tech.
With another year in Ulbrich's scheme, Dorlus should continue to improve in 2026. There's still time for general manager Ian Cunningham to make a move before camp starts on July 29.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFL analyst names Falcons' biggest remaining roster issue
