The Atlanta Falcons announced on May 11 that they have signed four players after the conclusion of the team’s rookie minicamp. The new additions to the roster are offensive linemen Brandon Walton and Layden Robinson, defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, and linebacker Daveren Rayner.
This move follows a weekend in which six drafted rookies, 14 undrafted free agents, and 24 tryout players participated in practices. To accommodate the new signings, the Falcons released defensive tackle Ben Stille, running back Carlos Washington, wide receiver Devin Thompkins, and tight end Brandon Frazier.
Rayner is the only rookie among those signed from tryouts. Walton has been in the league since 2020 and has played for several teams including Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Carolina Panthers. He has made two starts across 19 career games. Robinson was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and started in both right guard and left guard positions before being waived due to injury in 2025.
Blacklock entered the league as a second-round pick by Houston Texans in 2020 after being acquired with a draft pick involved in a trade with Arizona Cardinals. He played two seasons with Houston before being traded to Minnesota Vikings where he continued his career before joining other teams such as Jaguars, Colts (where he worked under current Falcons defensive line coach Nate Ollie), Titans, and Giants.
Rayner transferred to Kentucky from Northern Illinois for his final college season where he started all twelve games with notable stats including 69 tackles (6.5 for loss), two sacks, four pass breakups and two interceptions.
The Atlanta Falcons compete in the National Football League’s NFC South division as an expansion team established in 1965 based out of Atlanta, Georgia; they have advanced to Super Bowl twice—in both 1998 and 2016—and their mascot is Freddie the Falcon according to the official website.