Why These Value Signings Will Break Out With Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have continued to fill out their roster with a flurry of moves in free agency. Ian Cunningham has made it clear that establishing depth and raising the floor for this team was a priority, and one month in, it appears that he is on the way to accomplishing that goal. 

And a pair of Falcon defenders stand out. 

Azeez Ojulari and Samson Ebukam were quiet additions that Atlanta made. Both players signed a one-year deal, with Ojulari set to make $1.4 million and Ebukam set to make $2.8 million, but this duo has the chance to take on important roles in Jeff Ulbrich’s defense.  

Ojulari burst onto the scene as a rookie, picking up the New York Giants’ rookie sack record (8.0), but injuries have since derailed his career. After that promising start, the defender landed on injured reserve in both of the next two seasons. He departed New York in free agency, finishing with just 46 games played. 

He then stopped in Philadelphia on a one-year deal, but a hamstring injury landed him on the injured reserve again. He appeared in just three games for the Eagles, meaning he has now appeared in just 57% of his games over his five-year career. 

When he is healthy, Ojulari projects as a player who could be a seven-to-eight sack pass rusher. His 17-game average of 7.6 sacks per season reflects that, but he has not finished a season with a full 17 games played since his breakout first season. 

Ebukam has also flashed some upside over the course of his career, taking off in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts. That season, he tallied 9.5 sacks over 16 games. Unfortunately, a ruptured Achilles tendon during training camp forced him to miss the entire 2024 season. While he returned in 2025, he would record just 2.0 sacks. 

By this summer, Ebukam will be a full two years removed from the injury that cost him a repeat performance. That season appears to be a bit of a flash in the pan, but he was a steady producer in a rotation for the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers before taking on the larger role with the Colts. 

If he can return to the form he flashed a few years ago, then Ebukam would be another potential diamond for the Falcons in 2026. 

This duo joins a pass rush fresh off its best season in franchise history, but one that will also be in a state of flux. After breaking the team record for sacks in a season, they will be replacing several contributors from that unit. And with the pending legal situation down in Miami with James Pearce Jr., the Falcons have been busy adding insurance for their pass rush. 

Jalon Walker is set to return at the opposite spot, but behind him, there were several depth concerns. Bralen Trice, who is entering year three without appearing in an NFL game, was the only other rostered player. Cameron Thomas was also added in free agency, and DeAngelo Malone re-signed as a depth player. 

In the interior, the Falcons return Brandon Dorlus (8.5 sacks), LaCale London (5.0), Zach Harrison (4.5 in seven games), and Ruke Orhorhoro (3.5) as key contributors. 

To this point in the process, the Falcons rank 27th in free agency spending ($47.4 million), but they have added 16 new players to the mix (with two more that re-signed and another added via trade). None of these are considered top-end deals, with not a single agreement eclipsing the $4.5 million mark in average annual value and just three that are for more than one year. 

Free agency is far from finished, and the Falcons will be in the mix for more additions later this offseason. 

Atlanta entered the offseason needing depth, durability, and competition across the roster. The additions of Ojulari and Ebukam reflect that. If even one of those bets pays off, the Falcons’ pass rush could remain a strength without the franchise ever having to overspend for it.