In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons went all-in on improving their edge rusher room, spending two first-round draft picks on the position in Georgia’s Jalon Walker (No. 15 overall) and Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. (No. 26 overall).
However, the Falcons will be without the contributions of both players for most of the 2026 season, starting with Sept. 13’s opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Walker, who finished 2025 with 5.5 sacks, was placed on season-ending injured reserve in early August
after tearing his ACL in camp. And Pearce, who recorded 10.5 sacks in 2025, will miss the first eight games of 2026 with a suspension after domestic violence-related charges in February.
The Falcons signed veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith out of retirement in mid-August to bolster their depth chart at the position. Smith will be 34 when the season begins. He recorded 1.5 sacks in two starts with the Eagles last year, but recorded nine sacks in 2024.
Smith is currently listed as a backup on the Falcons’ current depth chart, although ESPN projects him as a starter in 2026. Currently, the Falcons’ listed starters at defensive end are Cameron Thomas (2.5 sacks last year) and Brandon Dorlus (8.5 sacks last year).
Dorlus is more of an interior rusher, but is expected to get more playing time at defensive end this season due to the Falcons’ need at the position. Other names who could be prominent members of the rotation include veteran Samson Ebukam (two sacks last year) and potential practice squad elevations Zach Harrison (4.5 sacks last year) and Bralen Trice.
While the Falcons aren’t completely devoid of talent on the edges, Week 1 should be a more favorable matchup than previously expected for the Steelers’ offensive tackles, who have their own question marks entering 2026. Troy Fautanu will be making his first NFL regular season start since switching to left tackle, while Dylan Cook or the rookie Max Iheanachor is expected to start on the right side.
The Falcons’ interior defensive line, however, is expected to be a tougher assignment, with the aforementioned Dorlus and proven starters such as D’Shawn Hand and the recently-acquired Gervon Dexter Sr., who recorded six sacks from the interior for the Chicago Bears in 2025.
Stay tuned to BTSC for more Steelers vs. Falcons game preview information ahead of Week 1.
