1. Austin Hooper
Kyle Pitts continues to be a speculated trade target throughout the 2025 offseason. If the Falcons were to move on from the pass catcher, they are going to need an offensive upgrade over Charlie Woerner. The backup tight-end is a great blocker and solid part of the Atlanta offense. However, you aren't going to rely on Woerner to help Michael Penix Jr. in his first season as a starter.
That is a role former Falcon Austin Hooper would be perfect for. Hooper has been a part of a handful of dysfunctional teams and still finds ways to contribute. If the Falcons move on from Pitts, signing Hooper makes sense for both sides.
2. Calais Campbell
Does Campbell have any interest in playing another season? The veteran is still playing at a high enough level that he can pick his landing spot if he desires to keep playing. The lone season spent in Atlanta was a failure, making a reunion a tough sell. However, Atlanta is desperate to fix the pass rush and might be willing to pay a bit more than market value for the veteran's return. Of all the fits on the list this makes the most sense for both sides.
3. Marcus Mariota
There might be some ill-will towards Mariota not only based on his level of play in the 2022 season but on how he exited the franchise. Whether or not Mariota was correct in his actions can be debated. What cannot is the fact the quarterback remains one of the best backups in the league. The Falcons need stability and a veteran they can rely on if Penix were to go down.
Mariota has shown both with the Eagles and Commanders he can make plays in that role. His time as a starter is long past, however, there is a lot of value in signing the quarterback as your primary backup. The one wrinkle for Atlanta is the fact they have to wait to decide the future of Kirk Cousins. This could cost the team the chance to sign any of the top backup options hitting the market.
While there are a handful of fits for the Falcons behind Penix, none offer the history of Mariota in Atlanta. The quarterback is familiar with the team and the majority of the starting offense. A reunion makes sense if the Falcons and Mariota are able to overlook how things ended two seasons ago.
4. Dante Fowler Jr.
The Falcons signed Dante Fowler Jr. expecting the pass rusher to be the primary option getting to the quarterback. Fowler's lack of production was frustrating and ended with Atlanta cutting the veteran two seasons later. Nothing has changed for a player who still needs stars around him to be able to get to the quarterback.
However, what has changed is the understanding of what Fowler is at this point in his career. The veteran is a great rotational edge rusher that can create negative plays when put into the right system. If the price is right, a reunion could make sense for the Falcons.
5. Olamide Zaccheaus
The Falcons badly need to improve their receiver depth and signing this former Falcon would be the perfect remedy. Zaccheaus was great in Atlanta when used in a depth role. The only issues the receiver faced were when the team asked him to be a primary target. With Darnell Mooney and Drake London firmly entrenched as the team's primary receivers, the former Falcon would thrive in a return to Atlanta.
The one concern with this move is whether or not the veteran is out of Atlanta's price range. If that isn't the case, the move is an obvious one.
