Atlanta Falcons release former starting edge rusher

The Atlanta Falcons are giving up one of their 2021 draft picks – defensive lineman Ade Ogundeji. The team announced in a press release on May 16 that it had released Ogundeji.

The 25-year-old played 32 games with the Falcons after the team drafted him 182nd overall out of Notre Dame in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. All of these matches took place during Ogundeji’s first two seasons.

Ogundeji spent the entire 2023 campaign on injured reserve.

In 2022 and 2022, Ogundeji has carved out a nice role for himself, playing about half of Atlanta’s defensive snaps. He started all 16 competitions in which he participated in 2022.

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But production was not always there. While he accumulated 75 combined tackles, including 8 tackles for loss in 32 games, he only managed 3 sacks and 3 quarterback hits. Ogundeji also had 1 pass defense and 1 fumble recovery in two seasons.

The Falcons did not address their defensive line the way many analysts expected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. But Atlanta added defensive linemen with multiple picks for Days 2 and 3. Ogundeji coming off a season-long injury, he’s now the odd man out.

However, Ogundeji is a candidate to return to the Falcons if a spot opens up due to injury over the summer. At just 25 years old, he still shows promise and wouldn’t be a bad option for the Falcons’ practice squad this fall.

But starting with Ogundeji, at least for the moment, almost half of the Atlanta’s 2021 draft class is off the list. Along with Ogundeji, the Falcons parted ways with former 2021 draft picks Jalen Mayfield, Darren Hall and Frank Darby.

However, some of Atlanta’s other draft picks in this class have become solid starters or contributors. The Falcons grabbed tight end Kyle Pitts No. 4 overall in the class, then safety Richie Grant in the second.

On day three of the 2021 draft, the Falcons selected starting center Drew Dalman, defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham and cornerback Avery Williams.

In addition to playing cornerback, Williams returned punts for the Falcons during his career. But like Ogundeji, Williams missed the entire 2023 season due to injury.