Malik

Verdon

Norton underwent surgery to correct his ankle issue in late August and was thusly placed on injured reserve. His 21-day practice window was activated in Week 8, but the team has determined he is not yet ready to retake the field. His reversion to injured reserve means he will not play in 2025. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris recently gave a non-answer when asked if Norton had suffered a setback. The Falcons signed S Jammie Robinson to the practice squad and designated LB Malik Verdon to return from the non-football injury (NFI) list.

King played well on special teams last year and will search for a spot on a 53-player roster elsewhere. The journeyman cornerback turned 30 this offseason. The Falcons also placed CB Cobee Bryant, S Malik Verdon and DE LaCale London on the non-football injury list.

A rangy boundary safety with prototype measurables (6’4/218, 32.5-inch arms) and a 9.15 RAS, Verdon boasts elite size and enough athleticism to turn heads. Iowa State’s 4-2-5 scheme saw him thrive in zone-heavy duties, posting an 80.5 coverage grade and 73.0 overall PFF defensive mark in 2024. While the tools are enticing, consistency remains elusive. He tallied 76 tackles, 5 PBUs, and 2 interceptions across 11 starts, even while wearing a cast for part of the season. His long-striding frame covers ground well downhill, but loose anticipation and questionable pursuit angles contributed to a 13.2 percent missed tackle rate and kept him from being trusted in man. Still, his 52 stops over three seasons suggest he can fill an alley and disrupt screens with burst. Verdon is a traits-based project with four-down potential. If special teams become his launching pad, teams may find a low-hole defender worth developing.