Falcons To Sign DB Darnay Holmes

Working as a role player with the Raiders, Holmes will join Jeff Ulbrich‘s defense as a potential AJ Terrell complementary piece. Contributing mostly as a slot cornerback, Holmes is a six-year NFL veteran with 12 starts on his resume.

The Falcons have an emerging slot presence in second-year cog Billy Bowman, but he is coming off an Achilles tear sustained in late November. That could affect the Oklahoma product’s availability for Week 1. At the very least, Bowman will miss offseason time and potentially begin training camp on the active/PUP list.

Holmes, 27, did not initially join the Raiders until being waived by the Giants in August 2024. He logged 28% and 21% snap shares on defense during his two Vegas seasons. The Raiders’ previous two coaching staffs used Holmes mostly in the slot. The Giants, who gave Holmes a 59% snap share during their 2022 playoff season, concurred with that plan.

Atlanta has Mike Hughes and Clark Phillips as tentative options alongside Terrell, though the team’s new regime should be expected to make another notable addition on the perimeter this offseason. Holmes is set to be a slot option while Bowman recovers.