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Sutton Smith high-fiving Divine Deablo.
In March 2025, Divine Deablo signs a two-year, $14 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons, signaling their intention to make him a defensive cornerstone. Atlanta values his ability to fluidly play both man-coverage and run support.
Atlanta expects Deablo to immediately step into a leading role which includes calling plays, aligning the front seven, and being mentored by veteran defensive leaders. In an article by Will McFadden, head coach Raheem Morris talks about his athleticism and length.
“His athleticism stands out. It’s been unique. His length stands out, which has been unique,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. “And him keying and diagnosing behind the ball probably a lot better than we thought, and I’m fired up to see that.”
Entering a new locker room, he’ll need to leverage his NFL experience to guide Atlanta’s defense.
Deablo is Having a Great Camp
Kaden Ellis is probably the most exciting Falcon to have Deablo on the roster. Ellis is impressed with his speed and his football instincts.
“I mean, you can see what makes him sick,” Falcons linebacker Kaden Ellis said. “I think he had probably the best play today in practice — really good tip. Just came in and knocked the ball out, and I broke it up for us. And he’s got the length, he’s got the speed, he’s got the athleticism, and he’s got the mentality.”
In his first minicamp with the Falcons Deablo loves the energy from Atlanta’s defense and coaches thus far.
“Very energetic. They got a lot of energy,” Deablo said. “They make sure you come out here ready to work. That’s the only thing they want, and that’s what we’ve been doing for them when it comes to defensive philosophy.”
His coverage versatility allows the Falcons to disguise schemes and counter modern tight ends and slot receivers.
Deablo Brings A lot of Versatility
Athleticism is Deablo’s calling card. Clocking sub-4.5s in workouts, he boasts rare explosiveness for a linebacker. Whether blitzing the edge, dropping into coverage, or tackling backs in open space, he moves like a safety and attacks like a linebacker. That combination makes him an ideal fit for today’s NFL defenses—increasingly reliant on versatility against modern offenses.
“I say my height and my speed.”I feel like I’m very tall, 6-3 and ¾ — usually I say 6-4. And I’m fast. So, I think my speed for sure,” said Deablo.
Morris feels like his versatility will be a huge difference maker for the defense this season as he continues to learn the defense.
“I’ve been pleased with what he’s done, Divine. I’ve been pleased with the character, really pleased with how he’s fit into our football team,” Morris said. “I’ve been pleased how our locker room has accepted him and brought him in and embraced him.”
Staying on the field will unlock his full impact; staying fresh will be as pivotal as his skillset. A full-season starting role should solidify him as a reliable 100+ tackle player with sacks and turnovers mixed in. He could be the missing piece to improve Atlanta’s defense.