{"id":749077,"date":"2026-02-13T11:04:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T11:04:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/749077\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T11:04:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T11:04:20","slug":"espn-says-atlanta-falcons-have-sneaky-good-trajectory-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/749077\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN says Atlanta Falcons have ‘sneaky good trajectory’ in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Feb. 12, 2026, 1:30 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

The Atlanta Falcons<\/a> made sweeping changes this offseason in an effort to end their eight-year playoff drought, but there’s no guarantee they will be any closer to the postseason in 2026. However, in terms of overall talent, the Falcons are in fairly good shape.<\/p>\n

ESPN<\/a> arranged the 18 teams that missed the playoffs into six different rebuild tiers. The Falcons were in the third group, known as the “sneaky good trajectory” tier. These teams need some work but are considered to have a good core of talented players.<\/p>\n

“Kevin Stefanski’s wide-zone running scheme with Bijan Robinson and a capable offensive line should be dangerous,” wrote ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler<\/a>. “Atlanta was considered one of the top jobs available this cycle because of its skill-position talent. The defense has continuity under coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and major talent on the back end.”<\/p>\n

While the Falcons have some nice pieces, they still have a bit to figure out. James Pearce Jr.’s looming legal troubles present a challenge, along with the fact that Atlanta has no first-round pick in 2026.<\/p>\n

“The team doesn’t have a first-round pick because it traded for the right to select James Pearce Jr. in last year’s draft,” wrote Fowler<\/a>. “Pearce’s future with the team is murky after last week’s arrest in Florida on battery charges. The team must prioritize paying star receiver Drake London — and finding him additional playmaking help on the outside. The team also needs at least one more cornerback and more size on the interior defensive line.”<\/p>\n

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Falcons also need to figure out what to do with tight end Kyle Pitts, who’s a free agent in 2026. Pitts is coming off a dominant season in which he racked up a career-high 88 catches and the second-highest yardage total (928) of his five-year career.<\/p>\n

As Fowler also highlighted, London’s next contract must be a priority for general manager Ian Cunningham. Atlanta lacks depth behind London, which is something the team will also need to address this offseason.<\/p>\n

Check out our list of five offensive free agents<\/a> that the Falcons could target in 2026.<\/p>\n

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