One of the biggest questions for the Atlanta Falcons going into the 2026 season is the second level of their defense. The New Orleans Saints signed versatile linebacker Kaden Elliss to a three-year, $33 million contract, leaving Divine Deablo to step into the green dot role in Jeff Ulbrich's defense.
Deablo is coming off a really impressive 2025 season, earning strong grades across the board from PFF in run defense, pass rushing and coverage. His 77.7 overall mark ranked him 11th at the position.
However, it seems not everyone was impressed by what he put on film last year - or at least they're waiting to see if he can do it again before considering him one of the league's top 32 linebackers. According to an analysis by Bleacher Report, Deablo
is only the 33rd-best off-ball linebacker in the NFL right now.
"After flaming out in Las Vegas, Deablo signed with Atlanta last offseason and had a career year. One discernible difference in his play was his instincts against the run, as the former Raider was constantly in the right spot to make tackles for short gains with the Falcons. Also, the college safety finally put it together in coverage on the second level, posting a career high seven passes defended after registering just six in the first four years of his career combined. However, he is still susceptible to the occasional coverage lapse..."
If you think that's disrespectful, then wait until you hear where free agent pickup Christian Harris was ranked. The former Texans linebacker signed with the Falcons as a free agent and is projected to start next to Deablo this season.
Harris was ranked dead last on Bleacher Report's list, coming in 77th out of 77 linebackers:
"Harris is a tough player to evaluate heading into the 2026 season because a lingering calf injury has significantly limited his time on the field during the last two campaigns. A few years ago, he looked like a young and promising linebacker, especially in coverage, with 12 passes defended in 2022 and 2023. However, it's fair to question if the former third-round pick can get back on that trajectory after the injury."
We're not saying Harris is an All-Pro in the making, but ranking him dead last when Carolina bum Trevin Wallace (ranked 75th) is right there just seems unfair. It's only an opinion, and all Deablo and Harris can do is play well enough to prove them wrong.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons linebackers get brutal rankings from Bleacher Report
