Falcons will not tender DL Sam Roberts

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 2: Sam Roberts #99 of the Atlanta Falcons looks on following an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Darnell Mooney was the first domino to fall Thursday, but not the last. The Atlanta Falcons have elected to let Sam Roberts test the open market as an unrestricted free agent, a wise move given the 2026 RFA (restricted free agent) tender price.

Roberts was added to the roster just before the season began. He was previously a member of the Carolina Panthers. He flew under the radar the first few weeks of the season, hitting the inactive list presumably because he was still getting acclimated to his new role and playbook.

However, once Roberts finally saw action against the Buffalo Bills, it was easy to see why the team felt he was worth making room for on the roster. Roberts primarily functioned as a 1T (nose tackle), which was one of the few holes the team had on its defensive line last year. Roberts filled that hole nicely. He's a large human, checking in at 6'5" and 300lbs.

Eating and splitting doubles with little issue, dominating the center in most of his 1-on-1s. I mean, this is good stuff. Would love to see Sam Roberts stay elevated https://t.co/CF4d4lEgC0pic.twitter.com/8SsT8rShsN

- Tre'Shon (@tre3shon) October 15, 2025

He showed the ability to be a penetrating nose tackle in this scheme, consistently blowing up doubles and getting into the backfield. He's someone that the team should bring back, so why didn't they tender him?

Nose tackles are undervalued in this league, and you don't need to spend a lot of money to get one, which is how Roberts ended up in Atlanta in the first place. It's another common sense, well calculated decision by the Falcons new GM, Ian Cunningham.

Cunningham is betting they can sign Roberts for less than the tender ($3.5M) or find another nose tackle of his caliber below that range, and it's a good bet to make.