Atlanta Falcons defensive end DeAngelo Malone has struggled to make an impact in his first three years in the NFL after being taken in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
In 49 games with the Falcons, Malone has produced 51 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, and three sacks.
Malone has also predominantly been a special teams player with the Falcons, which is not what they expected after he racked up 61 tackles for loss and 34 sacks at Western Kentucky. That said, the pressure is on the former third-round pick to perform as he’s entering the last year of his rookie deal and could be on the roster bubble this summer.
Can New Position Save DeAngelo Malone's Falcons Career?
On Tuesday, Joe Patrick of 92.9 The Game reported that the 25-year-old Malone is working as an off-ball linebacker under the new defensive scheme in Atlanta.
DeAngelo Malone working as an off ball linebacker under the new defensive scheme. He’ll have his work cut out for him to make the roster.
— Joe Patrick (@japatrick200) May 27, 2025
The Falcons hired Jeff Ulbrich as their new defensive coordinator earlier this year, who is taking over for Jimmy Lake. Ulbrich will be running multiple defenses (4-3 and 3-4), which could help a player like Malone.
While the former Western Kentucky defender has the frame to be an outside linebacker, Malone is not the strongest in run defense (27.2 grade in 2024 regular season), and isn’t someone you want dropping back into coverage.
At the same time, Malone trying out a new position could afford him more time on the roster, especially if he shows some growth. The former third-round pick hasn’t had an easy hand dealt to him, as this will be his fourth defensive coordinator in four years.
Many players in his position would struggle to adjust, especially if they were viewed as a project, who still needs to grow in several areas. That said, the odds are stacked against Malone. But if he can show some promise in OTAs and then in training camp, he could be one of the surprise stories of the summer.