Falcons Nation

PFF's Top 10 Running Backs ahead of the 2026 NFL season. Bijan Robinson takes the #1 spot, followed by Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry to round out the top three. 🏈

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Maason Smith gets exactly what many young players hope for: a fresh opportunity.

After flashing intriguing potential during his rookie season in Jacksonville, Smith struggled to build on that momentum in Year 2, finishing with 15 total tackles and one pass defended while seeing his role diminish.

Atlanta saw enough upside to acquire the former second-round pick in a trade, giving him the chance to reset his career as the Falcons begin a new era under head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Sometimes a change of scenery is all a young player needs.

If Smith can recapture the promise he showed early in his career, this move could become a win for both him and Atlanta.

❤️🖤⚡🏈

No doubt 😂

Jahan Dotson believes his best football is still ahead of him ⭐️

After four NFL seasons split between two teams, the former first-round pick is embracing a fresh start with the Atlanta Falcons.

For Dotson, this isn’t just another stop, it’s an opportunity to finally show the player he knows he can be.

“I 100 percent believe in my talent and ability to make plays in this league. It’s just about getting the opportunity to do so. I didn’t really have that opportunity the past couple years.” 🗣️

The talent has never been in question. Now, with a new team and a clean slate, Dotson is betting that the right opportunity will unlock the potential that made him a first-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.

A new city. A new system. And perhaps, the breakout season he’s been waiting for 🔥

CBS Sports ranked Drake London as the No. 19 player age 25 and under entering the 2026 season.

The Falcons rewarded London with a four-year, $141 million extension after he continued to produce despite inconsistent quarterback play.

Since 2024, London is one of just five NFL players with at least 2,000 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, cementing his place among the league’s top young receivers.

ESPN ranked Bijan Robinson as the NFL’s No. 1 running back entering the 2026 season.

League executives, coaches and scouts praised Robinson’s elite combination of vision, agility, power and receiving ability after he led the NFL with 2,498 scrimmage yards in 2025.

At just 24 years old, Robinson has established himself as the standard at the position.

Atlanta is building an absolute wall in the secondary.

And this group has all the ingredients to lock themselves in as a top-5 defensive back unit in the NFL.

The Falcons have paired their established elite stars with a massive influx of dynamic talent.

Just look at the core they have put together right now:

A.J. Terrell Jr. & Jessie Bates III

Xavier Watts & Billy Bowman Jr.

Avieon Terrell & Mike Hughes

Having both Terrell brothers locking down the perimeter while an All-Pro safety like Bates patrols the middle of the field is a serious luxury.

If the chemistry clicks early, this group has the range, physicality, and raw talent to completely take away the deep ball.

Where do you rank this new-look Falcons secondary heading into the season?

Jalon Walker is emerging as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s defense.

After recording 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 9 QB hits as a rookie, the Falcons are preparing to expand his role in Year 2.

Atlanta believes the former first-round pick can become one of the defense’s most impactful and versatile playmakers.

Sydney Brown adds essential defensive depth and athletic upside to the Falcons' secondary, as playing behind Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts allows him to take his time in growing into a vital piece. 📈🔒

The Denver Broncos' pass rush was an absolute nightmare for opposing quarterbacks last season.

Racking up 68 sacks, Denver finished with the 5th-most team sacks in NFL history.

They completely separated themselves from the rest of the pack.

Meanwhile, down at No. 2, the Atlanta Falcons did something they haven't done in what feels like a trillion years.

They actually got to the quarterback.

After over a decade of struggling to generate consistent pressure, the Falcons' defense finally woke up, breaking a franchise record that had stood since 1997 with 57 total sacks.

It was a historic year for both defenses, but the gap between Denver and everyone else is just absurd.