CBS Sports suggests one final offseason move for Atlanta

With the Atlanta Falcons set to begin training camp on July 24, they still have some time to make last-minute roster tweaks. Last offseason, general manager Terry Fontenot made two late-summer additions to bring in linebacker Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons.

While we wouldn’t rule out the team making another move or two, Atlanta’s lack of salary cap space could make that difficult to accomplish. It seems more likely that they will stand pat with their current roster to begin training camp.

The Falcons deserve some credit for addressing their pass rush and secondary, but only time will tell if they did enough to end their seven-year playoff drought. If Atlanta were to make another move, what would it be?

CBS Sports highlighted each team’s biggest remaining need, suggesting the Falcons add another cornerback before the 2025 NFL season begins:

Atlanta left little to chance this year when it came to investing in its pass rush. After initially drafting Georgia’s Jalon Walker No. 15 overall, the Falcons sacrificed a 2026 first-round pick to move back up for Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. A cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell is now the focal point with wide receiver also garnering consideration. — Josh Edwards, CBS Sports

The Falcons re-signed veteran Mike Hughes to a three-year, $18 million contract to start opposite Terrell in 2025. The former first-round pick isn’t exactly a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback, but he held his own for the most part last season.

Pro Football Focus even labeled Hughes as the team’s best free-agent signing of the 2025 offseason.

“While this deal isn’t the splash in the secondary the Falcons needed, it’s undoubtedly an excellent value signing to capitalize on Hughes’ improved play,” wrote PFF’s Mason Cameron. “He allowed a career-best 0.90 yards per coverage snap in 2024 and brings positional flexibility should he regress.”

Hughes could also benefit from Atlanta’s improved pass rush. The team selected Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. The Falcons could also look to former fourth-round pick Clark Phillips III to step up if Hughes struggles this season.

Ultimately, Atlanta has less than $5 million in salary cap space available — per Over The Cap — which probably isn’t enough to acquire a starting-caliber cornerback in free agency.

– Check out our latest Falcons 53-man roster projection ahead of training camp