The Falcons are keen to keep shuffling their secondary depth.
When your head coach is a longtime defensive backs coach, your assistant head coach is a longtime defensive backs coach, and your franchise justifiably views the secondary as a critical piece of the team, you’re going to stack depth there. That’s particularly true when roster limits are expanded in the summer, and it explains why the Falcons have pruned a couple areas of the roster in the last week to add defensive backs.
Previously it was wide receiver Makai Polk exiting in favor of safety Henry Black, and over the weekend they added cornerback Grayland Arnold while cutting ties with offensive lineman Kilian Zierer. Zierer was swiftly claimed off of waivers by the Browns, so our standard issue “we wish him well” doesn’t need to end in “wherever he ends up.” Cleveland desperately needs offensive linemen, and Zierer has size and athletic ability to be interesting, but was obviously a longshot to make Atlanta’s roster.
Arnold may have a better shot, though he’s likely gunning for a practice squad role. The veteran began his career with the Eagles back in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. An improved tackler versus his college days, Arnold has carved out a role on special teams in the pros, though he last appeared in an NFL regular season game back in 2023 with the Texans. A turnover-causing machine in the late stages of his college career, Arnold has interesting ball skills and could be a fun reserve corner with special teams value if he enjoys a good summer. The crowded nature of the cornerback room is working against him, but the team should have a couple of openings on the practice squad, especially if Natrone Brooks squeezes his way onto the 53 man roster.
Give Arnold a warm welcome, and we’ll see how he fares in camp and preseason.