March 1, 2026, 6:30 a.m. ET

The Atlanta Falcons have a little over a week to get their salary cap together before the 2026 NFL free agency period begins, but they did just make two key roster decisions. The team franchise-tagged tight end Kyle Pitts, and will officially release Kirk Cousins on March 11.

This has left the Falcons in the market for another quarterback. Plus, the team needs to upgrade at wide receiver and likely find a new No. 2 running back. Here are 35 offensive free-agent targets for Atlanta in 2026.

1). QB Russell WilsonAge: 372025 Stats: 831 passing yards, 3 TD, 3 INT

Wilson is not the player he used to be, but the Falcons aren’t looking for a franchise quarterback. The 10-time Pro Bowler is an ideal backup/bridge option for Atlanta in 2026. Last season, Wilson was benched by the New York Giants but still made a point to help with rookie Jaxson Dart’s development. With Cousins on the way out, the Falcons could use a veteran to fill the leadership void in the quarterback room. Wilson passed for 831 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions last season.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.2). QB Malik WillisAge: 262025 stats: 422 passing yards, 3 TD, 123 rushing yards, 2 TD

Falcons fans will remember Willis from the 2022 NFL Draft. Many of us in the media projected Atlanta to draft the former Liberty quarterback in Round 1, however, he fell all the way to the third round. The Falcons passed on Willis for Desmond Ridder, which didn’t exactly work out. While Willis initially struggled in Tennessee, he has played well since being traded to the Green Bay Packers. Last season, Willis appeared in four games and earned a QBR of 93.1. Unlike most of the other options on this list, Willis is someone who would be coming in to start.

3). QB Tyrod TaylorAge: 362025 stats: 779 passing yards, 5 TD, 5 INT, 151 rushing yards

Tyrod Taylor is one of the better backups in this league, which is why he has consistently stayed employed over the last 15 years. The 36-year-old has passed for 13,033 yards, 73 touchdowns and 34 interceptions since entering the league in 2011. Taylor appeared in six games for the New York Jets last season, making four starts and passing for 779 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

4). QB Tyler HuntleyAge: 282025 stats: 776, 2 TD, 0 INT, 151 rushing yards

Huntley has spent the last six seasons as a backup for the Baltimore Ravens. The 28-year-old appeared in five games last season (two starts), passing for 426 yards and two touchdowns while completing 77.6 percent of his attempts. Huntley even made a Pro Bowl in 2022. If the Falcons are looking for a high-upside backup who’s capable of stepping in for a few games, Huntley has shown he can fill that role. For his career, the veteran QB has passed for 3,213 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, adding 795 rushing yards and five more scores on the ground.

5). QB Trey LanceAge: 252025 stats: 226 passing yards, 1 INT, 85 rushing yards

Lance has yet to really prove he can start in this league, but he played well in the preseason last year and has made some progress in terms of reading NFL defenses.The San Francisco 49ers traded up to get Lance with the third overall pick in 2021, but he clearly wasn’t ready. While he may never live up to the hype he had coming out of college, Lance has developed enough to at least be a backup. Perhaps Kevin Stefanski can get the most out of former top-five pick in Atlanta.

6). QB Joe FlaccoAge: 412025 stats: 2,479 passing yards, 15 TD, 10 INT

Flacco may be 41 years old, but he continues to play good football. Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski has prior experience with Flacco from their time together in Cleveland. The Browns started Flacco in Week 1 and later traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran quarterback still passed for a respectable 2,479 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. A former Super Bowl MVP, Flacco has passed for 48,176 yards, 272 touchdowns and 172 interceptions over his 18-year career.

7). QB Carson WentzAge: 332025 stats: 1,216 passing yards, 6 TD, 5 INT

Wentz played pretty well for the Vikings last season but was less effective after suffering multiple injuries. The former No. 2 overall pick initially looked like a franchise QB in Philadelphia, and was a favorite for the MVP in his second season before going down late in the year. In terms of finding a quality backup who’s capable of winning a few games if Penix misses time, Wentz is one of the better options available. For his career, the 33-year-old has passed 23,626 yards, 159 touchdowns and 72 interceptions.

8). RB Brian RobinsonAge: 262025 Stats: 92 carries, 400 yards, 2 TD, 8 catches, 25 yards

Robinson, a former third-round pick, could be an ideal replacement for Allgeier in free agency. While he lacks the power-rushing ability of Allgeier, Robinson has a better all-around skill set. The 26-year-old has 73 career catches for 612 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Robinson rushed for over 700 yards in each of his first three NFL seasons. Plus, as he proved last season in San Francisco, Robinson has some kick return ability that would be beneficial in Atlanta.

9). RB JK DobbinsAge: 272025 stats: 153 carries, 772 yards, 4 TD, 11 catches, 37 yards

Dobbins is wildly talented but his career has been hindered by injuries. With that said, Dobbins could give the Falcons a dangerous two-headed monster if he can stay healthy. The former second-round pick rushed for over 700 yards last season on over five yards per carry for the Denver Broncos. Dobbins, 27, still has plenty of gas left in the tank. As a pass-catcher, Dobbins has recorded 70 career catches for 367 yards and one touchdown. A one-year deal could make sense for both parties.

10). RB Isiah PachecoAge: 262025 stats: 118 carries, 462 yards, 1 TD, 19 catches, 101 yards 1 TD

Pacheco is another player whose career has been slowed by injuries, but he has been effective when healthy. The Kansas City Chiefs running back racked up 563 all-purpose yards last season. For his career, Pacheco has rushed for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns, with an additional 554 receiving yards on 88 receptions. While his best days are behind him, the 26-year-old could thrive running behind Atlanta’s offensive line in 2026.

11). RB Rachaad WhiteAge: 272025 stats: 132 carries, 572 yards, 4 TD, 40 catches, 218 yards

What better way to get back at the Buccaneers and former Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson than by signing running back Rachaad White? The 27-year-old’s stats and role have declined in each of the last three seasons, but he’s still a versatile back who racked up 800 all-purpose yards in 2026. For his career, White has rushed for 2,656 yards and 14 touchdowns, while adding 205 receptions for 1,450 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. White can do a lot of the same things Robinson can. His presence would give Atlanta another dynamic one-two punch in the backfield.

12). RB Nick ChubbAge: 302025 stats: 122 carries, 506 yards, 3 TD, 13 catches, 67 yards

Former Browns running back Nick Chubb has experience with Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski. If the team is looking for a similar dynamic to the one it had with Robinson and Allgeier, Chubb would make a lot of sense. Despite injuries, Chubb still rushed for over 500 yards last season for the Houston Texans. His days as a lead back are over, but he can still provide value and get those tough yards the way Allgeier has in recent years.

13). RB A.J. DillonAge: 272025 stats: 12 carries, 60 yards, 3 catches, 21 yards

Dillon has less upside that some of the either backs on this list. The former second-round pick has never established himself as lead back, but he’s consistently provided value when healthy over the last five seasons. The 27-year-old has rushed for 2,488 yards and 16 touchdowns since entering the league in 2020. Plus, Dillon has 89 career receptions for 784 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

14). RB Miles SandersAge: 282025 stats: 20 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD, 8 catches, 30 yards

Sanders spent last season in Dallas and suffered a season-ending injury early in the year. He’s not the flashiest name on this list, as his best days are clearly behind him, but in the right role, Sanders could provide depth behind Bijan Robinson. For his career, Sanders has rushed for 4,462 yards and 24 touchdowns, adding 183 catches for 1,274 yards and four touchdowns.

15). WR Romeo DoubsAge: 252025 stats: 55 catches, 724 yards, 6 TD

The Falcons could use a quality No. 2 or No. 3 option to open up the rest of the offense in 2026. Doubs had 55 catches for 724 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season. While he has never quite developed into that next star receiver for the Packers, Doubs has consistently improved over the last four seasons. At 25 years old, he still has plenty of upside. PFF projects he will land a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency.

16). WR Rashid ShaheedAge: 272025 stats: 59 catches, 687 yards, 2 TD

Shaheed seems like an ideal fit due to his game-breaking speed and special teams ability. The former Saints wide receiver was traded to the Seahawks during the season and helped Seattle win the Super Bowl. Shaheed finished with 59 catches for 687 receiving yards last year. Over four NFL seasons, he has 153 career receptions for 2,243 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. The Falcons released return man Jamal Agnew, so there’s a need for a versatile receiver with return ability.

17). WR Jauan JenningsAge: 282025 stats: 55 catches, 643 yards, 9 TD

A former seventh-round pick, Jennings has come on strong for the 49ers over the last few years. Despite the team’s injuries at quarterback in 2025, Jennings recorded a career-high nine touchdowns. Over the past two seasons combined, Jennings has recorded 132 catches for 1,618 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in 25 starts. PFF is projecting the 28-year-old to sign a three-year, $50 million contract in free agency.

18). WR Wan’Dale RobinsonAge: 252025 stats: 92 catches, 1,014 yards, 4 TD

Robinson has the highest upside of the receivers on this list, even if he’s the smallest in stature. He finished the 2025 season with 92 receptions for a career-high 1,014 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Pairing the 5-foot-8 Robinson with the 6-foot-4 London would give the Falcons a dynamic duo at wide receiver capable of punishing opposing defenses in a variety of ways. Robinson could be a bit pricey, but he’s an option if GM Ian Cunningham can create enough cap space.

19). WR Marquise BrownAge: 282025 stats: 49 catches, 587 yards, 5 TD

Brown is another receiver who fits as a No. 2/No. 3 option to complement London and Mooney. The Chiefs thought he would produce like a No. 1 receiver, and while he didn’t do that in Kansas City, the Falcons would know what to expect. Last season, he caught 49 balls for 587 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The former first-round pick topped 1,000 yards with the Ravens back in 2021. PFF projects Brown will get a one-year, $6.5 million contract in free agency.

20). WR Olamide ZaccheausAge: 282025 stats: 39 catches, 313 yards, 2 TD

Olamide Zaccheaus originally broke into the league with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He played three seasons with Matt Ryan (2019-2021) and posted a career-high 533 receiving yards in 2022 before leaving in free agency. Zaccheaus topped 500 receiving yards again with the Washington Commanders in 2024. Last season, he had 39 catches for 313 yards and two touchdowns for the Chicago Bears. Zaccheaus would be a solid veteran addition to a thin wide receiver room.

21). WR Tyreek HillAge: 312025 stats: 21 catches, 265 yards, 1 TD

Hill is the most established receiver on this list but appeared in just four games last season due to a torn ACL. The veteran wideout has made eight Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams since entering the league in 2016. Hill has topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark six times, finishing with over 1,700 receiving yards in 2022 and 2023. We imagine Hill will sign a one-year, incentive-laden deal.

22). TE David NjokuAge: 292025 stats: 33 catches, 293 yards, 4 TD

Njoku, another former first-round pick, has spent his entire nine-year NFL career in Cleveland. The 29-year-old had his best season under Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski in 2023 when he made the Pro Bowl and recorded 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns. When healthy, Njoku is one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league, and he has improved as a blocker over the years. Plus, the former Browns tight end already knows Stefanski’s system.

23). TE Isaiah LikelyAge: 252025 stats: 27 catches, 307 yards, 1 TD

Likely has averaged over 10 yards per reception in each of his four NFL seasons. The 25-year-old’s best season was his 477-yard, six-touchdown campaign in 2024, and that was while serving as Baltimore’s No. 2 tight end behind Mark Andrews. Likely moves well for his size and his blocking ability has improved. Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski could help mold Likely into a quality No. 1 tight end.

24). TE Dallas GoedertAge: 312025 stats: 60 catches, 591 yards, 11 TD

Goedert has been one of the better tight ends in the NFL over the last eight seasons. The 31-year-old has recorded 409 career receptions for 4,676 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns since being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Last season, he posted a career-high 11 touchdowns for the Eagles.

25). TE Cade OttonAge: 262025 stats: 59 catches, 572 yards, 1 TD

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end has developed nicely over the last four seasons. In 2025, Otton recorded 59 catches for 572 receiving yards. While this seems unlikely now that Pitts has returned, it would allow the team to run more 12 personnel sets. For his career, Otton has recorded 207 catches for 2,018 yards and 11 touchdowns.

26). TE Chigoziem OkonkwoAge: 262025 stats: 56 catches, 560 yards, 2 TD

Okonkwo might be the biggest sleeper on this list, but NFL general managers certainly aren’t sleeping on the 26-year-old after his 560-yard campaign in 2025. The Georgia native has been a solid contributor since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2022. Okonkwo has recorded 194 catches for 2,017 yards and eight touchdowns over his four NFL seasons. Plus, he’s never missed a game.

27). TE Darren WallerAge: 332025 stats: 24 catches, 283 yards, 6 TD

Waller has proven himself over his 10 seasons in the NFL. The 33-year-old isn’t what he once was, but he could give the Falcons another capable tight end to pair with Pitts. Waller has two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt from his time with the Raiders. Last year, Waller posted 24 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins.

28). TE Austin HooperAge: 312025 stats: 21 catches, 263 yards, 2 TD

Could a reunion with Austin Hooper be in the cards? The Falcons drafted Hooper in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft and he spent four seasons in Atlanta — making two Pro Bowls — before going to the Cleveland Browns in 2020. Hooper spent two years playing under Stefanski in Cleveland. In 2025, Hooper appeared in 16 games for the New England Patriots. While he doesn’t have the upside of some others on this list, Hooper would be a solid depth signing with the ability to start.

29). C Ethan PocicAge: 302025 stats: 13 starts

Pocic played under Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski for the last four seasons in Cleveland. While the veteran center has plenty of starting experience, he suffered an Achilles injury late in the season which will likely restrict him to a bench role in 2026. Atlanta needs a quality backup center, and Pocic would be an ideal fit to add depth behind starter Ryan Neuzil. The 30-year-old has 97 career starts under his belt.

30). G Wyatt TellerAge: 312025 stats: 13 starts

Next up, we have another veteran Browns offensive lineman in guard Wyatt Teller. The three-time Pro Bowler’s best days are likely behind him. Teller will not be returning to the Browns in 2026, however, he may still be looking to start elsewhere. Like Pocic, Teller also ended the season on the injured reserve list after appearing in 13 games. Depending on the offensive line market, perhaps the 31-year-old would be willing to take a one-year deal in Atlanta as a backup while he gets fully healthy.

31). OL Cade MaysAge: 262025 stats: 14 games (12 starts)

Mays is one of the younger players on our list, but he has yet to establish himself as a clear-cut NFL starter. He did a decent job last season in Carolina and his versatility makes him an intriguing option for any team looking to add offensive line depth. Mays is a solid pass-blocker but has a long way to go as a run-blocker. At just 26, though, he has plenty of upside and we wouldn’t be surprised if a more desperate team signs Mays to start next season.

32). OT George FantAge: 332025 stats: 4 games played (0 starts)

Fant would be an ideal replacement for swing tackle Elijah Wilkinson in free agency. The 33-year-old won’t have a big market this year after appearing in just four games last season. Fant has 75 starts under his belt and has played both left tackle and right tackle over his nine NFL seasons. Signing Fant to a one-year deal would be a cost-effective way to add more offensive line depth in 2026.

33). OT Kendall LammAge: 332025 stats: 13 games played (0 starts)

Lamm is a career backup with versatility to play both tackle positions. The 33-year-old spent the last four seasons as a swing tackle in Miami. In terms of backup options, Lamm would make a lot of sense as someone to replace Wilkinson. Over his 11 NFL seasons, Lamm has appeared in 132 games with 44 starts. The veteran offensive lineman has started 15 total games over the last three years for the Dolphins.

34). OL Dillon RadunzAge: 272025 stats: 15 games played (10 starts)

Radunz is another experienced veteran with enough versatility to play multiple positions. The former second-round pick has yet to establish himself as a quality starter, but he has 41 career starts. Radunz would have a ton of value as someone who can play tackle and guard. The 27-year-old may be just out of the Falcons’ price range, though.

35). OT Justin SkuleAge: 292025 stats: 16 games played (9 starts)

Skule is a fringe starter who would be better suited as a swing tackle. Last season, he made nine starts for the Minnesota Vikings. Skule’s pass protection has been an issue, but when you’re targeting backups, every player is going to have their weak spots. Nonetheless, Skule has started 26 games for the Vikings, Buccaneers and 49ers since entering the league in 2019.