The Atlanta Falcons announced on May 11 that they have signed four players after the conclusion of the team’s rookie minicamp. The new additions to the roster are offensive linemen Brandon Walton and Layden Robinson, defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, and linebacker Daveren Rayner.
The team hosted six drafted rookies, 14 undrafted free agents, and 24 tryout players during practices over the weekend. To make space for the new signings, the Falcons released defensive tackle Ben Stille, running back Carlos Washington, wide receiver Devin Thompkins, and tight end Brandon Frazier.
Rayner is the only rookie among those signed from tryouts; Walton, Robinson, and Blacklock are all veterans who participated in this year’s rookie minicamp. Walton entered the league in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with Buffalo and has since played for several teams including Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and Carolina. He has made two starts across 19 career games.
Robinson was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by New England but was waived due to injury in 2025 after appearing in 13 games with 11 starts during his rookie season. Before joining the NFL, he earned Second-Team All-SEC honors at Texas A&M.
Blacklock joined Houston as a second-round pick in 2020—the pick acquired through a trade involving DeAndre Hopkins—and appeared in nearly thirty games over his first two seasons before being traded to Minnesota. He later spent time with Jacksonville, Indianapolis (where he worked with current Falcons defensive line coach Nate Ollie), Tennessee, and New York Giants.
Rayner transferred to Kentucky from Northern Illinois for his final collegiate season in which he started all twelve games for Kentucky last year—recording notable statistics including two sacks and two interceptions.
The Atlanta Falcons compete in the National Football League’s NFC South division and are based in Atlanta. The franchise began as an expansion team in 1965 and has advanced to the Super Bowl twice—in both 1998 and again in 2016—according to their official website.