The Falcons haven’t had a ton of success drafting under Terry Fontenot, but the hope is that the latest crop will buck that trend.
Michael Penix Jr. has the chance to keep Fontenot in Atlanta for the next decade, while Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. could make up for what was one of the worst three-year stretches of draft classes in recent Falcons memory.
But, it’s not just about finding talent. The other side of the coin is to develop that talent, and that’s the area in which the Falcons have failed miserably. Fontenot’s first draft class has all but disappeared. It’s quite possible none of the nine picks play in Atlanta on a second contract.
The 2022 class is better, headlined by Drake London, but there’s also a case to be made that none of the others will play in Atlanta on a second contract. Tyler Allgeier worked out beautifully, but three of the team’s top five picks look to be on their way out, with one already gone in Desmond Ridder.
Troy Andersen has flashed at times but has struggled to stay healthy. Arnold Ebiketie hasn’t been a bust by any means, but the former second-round pick certainly hasn’t lived up to the billing of his draft status, and perhaps worst of all, DeAngelo Malone has given the Falcons nothing more than special teams value.
Malone played two defensive snaps in 2023 and 90 in 2024, compared to 943 snaps in the third phase across three seasons. He’s clearly not developed into a contributor in the pass rush like the Falcons had hoped, so they’re making a change, and it’s not a good one.
According to Joe Patrick, Malone is working as an off-ball linebacker amid the Falcons’ offseason training activities, signaling his place on the roster is not guaranteed.
> DeAngelo Malone working as an off ball linebacker under the new defensive scheme. He’ll have his work cut out for him to make the roster.
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> — Joe Patrick (@japatrick200) [May 27, 2025](https://twitter.com/japatrick200/status/1927416523410337859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
On the edge, the Falcons are currently sporting a depth chart that features Leonard Floyd, Arnold Ebiketie, Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., and Bralen Trice, who all seem like locks to make the final 53-man roster.
At linebacker, Malone will be competing with JD Bertrand, Caleb Johnson, Josh Woods, and Nick Kubitz for what could only be one spot behind Kaden Elliss, Divine Deablo, and Troy Andersen.
It’s going to be an uphill battle, and while Malone has to take some of the blame, it’s not like he was set up for success. When the Western Kentucky product was drafted, Dean Pees was the defensive coordinator. A year later, Ryan Nielsen took over, changing the team’s base scheme from a 3-4 to a 4-3.
Then, Nielsen left Atlanta after Arthur Smith was fired, which once again resulted in a schematic change as Raheem Morris brought in Jimmy Lake, who employed a 3-4 defense. Once again, this past offseason came with another coaching change. This time, it’s Jeff Ulbrich, who has talked a lot about schematic multiplicity but cut his teeth in 4-3 packages.
If you’re counting at home, DeAngelo Malone, along with Arnold Ebiketie and Troy Andersen, are learning their fourth defensive playbook under their fourth defensive coordinator in four years. That’s not a recipe for success, my friends.
Nevertheless, Malone will always provide value on special teams, an often forgotten facet of successful football teams. If he once again thrives there, he’ll be on the roster
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Photographer: John Adams/Icon Sportswire