You can only learn so much from the first round of roster cuts, given that most of them are players that we’ve long expected to get the axe. The hope is that they find opportunities with other teams, even though they might not have been the best fit for the Atlanta Falcons.
That said, I think with the surprise release of Morgan Fox and a couple of areas where the team made deeper cuts, we do know a few things we didn’t know on Friday night. Here are two concrete items and one that’s a little more
speculative.
Jovaughn Gwyn is the backup center
It’s possible the Falcons will scoop someone up once cuts are in, so you can’t write this name down in pen. But Jake Hanson hitting injured reserve, Matthew Cindric getting cut, and Michael Gonzalez getting the axe earlier in August, Gwyn is the only semi-experienced center left behind starter Ryan Neuzil. Joshua Gray has been mentioned as a potential center candidate and may be down the line, but right now he’s manning guard more often.
The Falcons made a multi-year investment in Gwyn, a former late pick, in much the same way they did with Neuzil. Gwyn has been either on the roster or the practice squad since he arrived, picking up time at center and learning the position, and it’s clear the Falcons have a much higher level of confidence in him than they did in the past, and he’s certainly had a better preseason than he did in 2024. That’s translating to a backup center role, and barring any additions in the coming days, he appears to be the team’s first man up if anything happens to Neuzil.
Easton Stick is QB3
I’d argue that we’ve known this forever, but the Emory Jones injury sealed it. Stick hasn’t had a great preseason past his initial game, but he’s done just enough this summer in conjunction with what he’s shown in previous starting experience to make him the logical choice to back up Michael Penix and Kirk Cousins. The release of Ben DiNucci confirms what we knew.
Would the Falcons be comfortable with Stick as their QB2 for the entire season if Cousins is moved? The preseason was not exactly sterling enough to make that call, and there’s always the specter of the team snapping up another player if one they like becomes available. But right now, there’s absolutely no question he’s QB3, and the only intrigue concerns whether he has a roster spot or a practice squad role.
The defense could be much changed, especially up front
Last year, the Falcons prized veterans on the roster for their new coaching staff, which featured a bunch of coaches in first-time roles under the very veteran Raheem Morris. Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, Casey Wasihngton, and so forth were fairly buried on the depth chart, and veterans like Kentavius Street, Eddie Goldman, James Smith-Williams, and Antonio Hamilton crowded out younger players who had fine summers.
The Morgan Fox release is the latest clue that we’re going in a very different direction in 2025. With Jeff Ulbrich on board as a veteran defensive coordinator and Zac Robinson in year two, the Falcons have signaled they’re willing—even eager—to prize youth and upside over proven veteran ability. Fox was given a decent chunk of guaranteed change to join Atlanta, but the team is willing to burn that money because they didn’t feel like Fox was going to offer as much as, say, a Ta’Quon Graham, a LaCale London, or even maybe a Simeon Barrow. While the Falcons are out that guaranteed $3 million, which is far from ideal for a team facing a cap crunch in the coming years, we have long asked the Falcons not to keep guys around simply because they have experience, a contract, or are coaching staff favorites. This could have implications for cornerback, where Natrone Brooks has been impressive enough to snag a roster spot at the potential expense of a Clark Phillips or Mike Ford.
We’ll see if this bears out when the remaining cuts are in, but while it comes with its frustrations, it looks like the Fox release and a small handful of these other moves indicate the Falcons are embracing a justified youth movement on defense.
