Raptors forward Brandon Ingram doubtful for Game 6 vs. Cavaliers due to heel injury
Brandon Ingram is doubtful for Game 6 against the Cavaliers due to a heel injury.
The Falcons selected linebacker Kendal Daniels in the fourth round, who may compete for a starting position following the loss of leading tackler Kaden Elliss. Daniels, transitioning from safety, is noted for his size and potential despite needing further development.
Generally speaking, NFL teams don't want to have to rely on rookies to play a lot of snaps in their first year in the league. Sometimes they come in and make a splash right away - Atlanta's stellar class of 2016 comes to mind - but most rookies need time to get adjusted to the speed of the pro game.
There are exceptions to the rule, though - and the Falcons may have one of them on their roster. In the fourth round they picked Oklahoma linebacker Kendal Daniels, who may end up competing for starting snaps according to NFL.com.
"Atlanta lost leading tacklerĀ Kaden EllissĀ in free agency, opening the door for Daniels to compete against former Texans LBĀ Christian Harris. Like the FalconsāĀ Divine Deablo, Daniels is a former safety who transitioned to linebacker. Daniels is not the fastest ābacker in the class, but he's a terror as a downhill player who stops ball-carriers."
Daniels (6-foot-5, 242 pounds) has more than just plus size for the position. Lance Zierlein's scouting report applauds his length, range and speed. On the downside, he's still learning to play linebacker after serving as a safety in college and needs to work trusting his instincts.
For now, Harris and Deablo should be penciled in as Week 1 starters - but if they struggle or get injured Daniels could end up playing significant snaps in Year 1.
No matter how it goes in 2025, Daniels should be considered a long-term favorite to start at the second level.
Kendal Daniels is a fourth-round linebacker pick for the Falcons, significant due to his potential to fill the starting role left by Kaden Elliss.
As a rookie transitioning from safety to linebacker, Kendal Daniels needs to adapt to the speed of the pro game and build trust in his instincts.
While not the fastest linebacker, Kendal Daniels is recognized for his size, length, and range, making him a formidable downhill player.
Brandon Ingram is doubtful for Game 6 against the Cavaliers due to a heel injury.
Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor's Legion Sports Bar closes after 3 years in Bellevue.
LIV Golf's future is uncertain as financial troubles mount and Saudi funding withdraws.
2027 DE Jackson Vaughn includes Tennessee in his top nine schools!
F1 introduces new regulations for the Miami GP amid controversy. What does Audi's Nico Hülkenberg think?
Arthur Melo is expected to return to Juventus after a loan at Gremio.
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Falcons Kendal Daniels could compete for starter snaps