Falcons kick off rookie minicamp with several veteran invites

In addition to welcoming draft picks and UDFAs, the Falcons will try out some established players.

Our favorite team’s rookie minicamp kicks off today, giving the Atlanta Falcons a close-up look at rookies from their drafted and undrafted classes, a few players from their own roster, and intriguingly a few veteran players hoping to latch on. With multiple open roster spots, the Falcons can—and may very well—sign players after the three day camp concludes.

Tori McElhaney with the Falcons was kind enough to provide a list of everyone attending. While the rookie class contains the players most likely to make an outsized impact for Atlanta in 2024, we’re going to get to talk about them for months and years to come, so we won’t focus on them today. Instead, let’s talk about a handful of those veterans who might be nice fits for the Falcons.

• EDGE Bradlee Anae: Just 26 years old, Anae never really caught on with the Jets, serving primarily as a special teamer, but he did have a preseason sack, forced fumble, and fumble return for a touchdown against the Falcons. He has bounced around since 2021 with the Jets, but if the Falcons like what they see this weekend, perhaps he could latch on as a deep reserve and special teams help. There was once a glimpse of pass rushing promise there.
• S Dane Cruikshank: Speaking of special teamers, Cruikshank has been a pretty good one for a long time, albeit one who has been increasingly lightly used by the teams he signs with in recent years. The 29-year-old would fit as a potential fifth safety or veteran practice squad addition given the dearth of options on this roster beyond Micah Abernathy.
• WR Odieu Hiliaire: Not really a veteran, Hillaire was a 2024 NFL Draft prospect who was not initially picked up by any teams. As a big play threat in college for a wide receiver group clearly looking for that, Hiliaire could latch on for the summer and compete for a role.
• TE Scott McKeon: Spent some time with the Cowboys in the pros and came into the league as a compelling blocker and decent if underutilized pass catching option. The current staff has very few attachments to John FitzPatrick and Tucker Fisk as potential third options behind Kyle Pitts and Charlie Woerner, at least leaving the door open a crack for someone like McKeon to impress and push them this summer.

You also, for obvious reasons, can’t count on any of these offensive linemen making a good impression and getting a chance to work with Dwayne Ledford, who has had success with drawing out the best in players like Ryan Neuzil and Kyle Hinton.

As always, the Falcons will post photos and we might get a few interesting tidbits from the coaching staff, and it’s a reminder that we’re creeping closer to training camp, preseason, and the actual 2024 season. Enjoy that reminder, and we’ll see if the Falcons wind up signing anyone from this group.