The Jalon Walker injury was a devastating blow to the Atlanta Falcons defense. There aren’t going to be players available with his exact skill set, but the free agent market isn’t completely bare (yet). Atlanta should move quickly to minimize the impact of this injury.
Here are the most notable free agents on the market.
Leonard Floyd
Floyd was one of the first names that came to mind after Walker’s injury was confirmed. It wouldn’t take Floyd long to acclimate to the playbook, and he was a productive member of last
year’s pass rush, finishing with the second most pressures (36) on the team.
Floyd wouldn’t be able to replace Walker’s impact in the run game, but he’s a known commodity that can produce as a pass rusher. Floyd is likely going to have to come down from his 2025 asking price if he wants to return to the Falcons.
Joey Bosa
Bosa would be a big-name addition, but he doesn’t feel like a realistic option for the team. A player that’s suffered so many injuries throughout their career probably isn’t the best player to rely on, but Bosa himself will likely want to go to a team with better Super Bowl odds.
Kyle Van Noy
Van Noy is getting up there in years, but he’s still been a productive player in a rotational role. In 2025, he had the fourth most pressures (27) on the Baltimore Ravens and was a net positive in the run defense. His veteran leadership would be a good addition to the locker room, and Van Noy shouldn’t break the bank, considering he most recently played on a $4.25M deal in 2025. The age concern is legitimate, but the team doesn’t have too many options.
Von Miller
Miller is the oldest player on this list, but he also had the most sacks among the group in 2025. He’s on a low pitch count these days and likely looking for a contender like Bosa, but crazier signings have happened.
Haason Reddick
Reddick is a polarizing player, and his most recent season on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has many around the league down on him. He does have history with Jeff Ulbrich, and that connection could lead to him getting one last shot in the league.
Derek Barnett
Barnett wasn’t a star, but he was a key role player in the vaunted 2025 Houston Texans defense. He can get the quarterback on the ground and is a serviceable run defender. Nate Ollie coached Barnett when he was a part of the Houston staff in 2024. Barnett just turned 30 and shouldn’t cost the team much, with his most recent deal coming in at $4.0M in total value.
None of these players will be able to fill Jalon Walker’s versatile shoes, but they can help stop the bleeding and get this training camp back on track.
