Falcons poach Charles Snowden, cut Bralen Trice

Atlanta needed a body on the edge, and it went to Washington's practice squad to find one. Ian Rapoport had it first.

Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet

The #Falcons are signing edge Charles Snowden off the #Commanders practice squad to their 53-man roster, source said. With Washington this year, Snowden was with the #Raiders the last three seasons.

This is a 53-man roster spot, not a tryout, so Washington couldn't just match it and keep him on the practice squad. Snowden is 28, 6-foot-6, and has been on the move his whole career. He came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Bears in 2021, spent the last 3 seasons in Las Vegas and landed on Washington's practice squad this year. Across his career he has 67 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 QB hits and 6 passes defended.

He also played real snaps for the Raiders, which is the whole reason Atlanta wants him. Daniel Flick had the stat line from last year.

Daniel Flick

@ByDanielFlick

Falcons are signing outside linebacker Charles Snowden off the Washington Commanders’ practice squad, source says. @RapSheet first. Snowden started nine games for the Raiders last season, recording three sacks & five tackles for loss.

Signing Snowden costs Bralen Trice his job. Atlanta took Trice out of Washington in the 2nd round in 2024, injuries kept him off the field until this September, and he had 2 tackles and a pass deflection in 4 games this year. The Falcons are waiving a 2nd-round pick in favor of a guy they took off another team's practice squad, which tells you how far Trice had fallen down the depth chart. He goes on waivers now, and somebody may well take a flier on him.

The pass rush was already thin. Jalon Walker tore his ACL before the season, and 2025 1st-rounder James Pearce Jr. is serving an 8-game suspension. Even so, Atlanta is somewhere in the middle of the league in sacks, which is more than you'd expect with 2 of its young edge guys out.

The rest of the defense isn't in great shape either after Week 6 against the Bears. Divine Deablo left with an arm injury, rookie Kendal Daniels was carted off with a neck injury and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, and Billy Bowman Jr. hurt his hamstring in the 4th quarter. The good news is Daniels was reportedly alert and moving all his extremities. The Falcons are still waiting on updates on that group.

Nobody should expect Snowden to fix Atlanta's pass rush. He's a long, experienced rotational piece who has started NFL games, and right now the Falcons need snaps more than they need upside. Watch this week's injury report. If Deablo and Daniels miss time, Snowden could be playing a lot sooner than a practice-squad pickup normally would.