Quietly, one of the bigger decisions still facing the Atlanta Falcons in the 2026 offseason is how much trust they have in right tackle Kaleb McGary moving forward.
Parting ways with the veteran isn't an option just yet. According to Spotrac, a potential roster cut would result in a $14.9 million dead cap hit. A post-June 1 trade would create $13.4 million in cap space; however, it's hard to imagine Atlanta finding a trade partner.
The Falcons will likely wait out the 2026 season before deciding on McGary's future with the franchise.
However, this doesn't mean that the lineman isn't facing questions after missing the entire 2025 season due to injury. This was after McGary was handed a two-year extension with the Falcons needing stability at the position, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s blindside being from the right tackle position. This isn't changing in 2026 with Tua Tagovailoa brought in, making Atlanta's starter left-handed no matter what direction the franchise chooses to go.
With this in mind, McGary is going to be under fire as his health remains an unknown quantity moving forward. The Falcons could still opt to draft depth or sign a veteran to come in and compete to start or provide insurance, making it possible that he'll have to fight for his job before the offseason is over.
Falcons Could Still Put Kaleb McGary Under the Microscope in 2026 Offseason
The decision-makers who opted to bet on McGary are out of place, and former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan is running football operations. There is no question that the quarterback appreciates the importance of a reliable line and will likely explore potential upgrades.
If the season started today, McGary would be a clear starter with Storm Norton as the swing tackle backing up both McGary and an aging Jake Matthews. As reliable as Matthews has been, it isn't just McGary that could cause the Falcons to consider adding to the position in either the draft or free agency.
Pro Football Focus' grades do a good job of illustrating McGary's decline in the last few seasons:
2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Overall | 86.6 | 75.5 | 73.8 |
Run Blocking | 91.6 | 76.5 | 77.6 |
Pass Blocking | 66.9 | 69.5 | 63.8 |
In other words, the Falcons need to light a fire under him. McGary has had an up-and-down career, and his poor pass protection leaves reason for concern. One way to see if he's reached his ceiling would be to add competition, either through the NFL draft or in its fallout.
Tackle depth is incredibly important for the Falcons, who are carrying two injury-prone quarterbacks. Both Tagovailoa and Penix have extensive injury histories, and failing to shore up their protection would put both signal-callers behind the eight-ball right away.
McGary is unquestionably going to be under a microscope the rest of the offseason and heading into camp. That pressure will only go up if Atlanta makes the obvious move and brings in competition.