Former Vikings DT Signs with Falcons

Ross Blacklock surfaced in December for a tryout with the Green Bay Packers, though a contract never materialized. Five months later, the former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle is the newest member of the Atlanta Falcons.

Blacklock is back in the NFC, trying to turn a camp opportunity into staying power.

Blacklock’s career has stalled compared to his once-promising 2nd-Round draft stock six years ago, but he’ll hope to rekindle his career on Kevin Stefanski’s team.

Atlanta Adds More Depth to Its Defensive Line

A short-timer for the Vikings, Blacklock eyes a roster spot in Atlanta.

ATL Signs Blacklock

Make it seven NFL teams in seven seasons for Blacklock. SI.com‘s Garrett Chapman wrote Monday, “The Atlanta Falcons have announced a flurry of roster moves after the conclusion of rookie minicamp last weekend. It was reported on Monday morning that they would sign offensive lineman Layden Robinson, but an additional slew of moves was made, according to Tori McElhaney.”

“The Falcons welcomed 46 players to Flowery Branch over the weekend, including six drafted players, 14 undrafted free agents, and 24 players auditioning for roster spots. Of those auditioning players, four, including Robinson, were signed. The others include defensive lineman Ross Blacklock, offensive tackle Brandon Walton, and linebacker Daveren Rayner.”

Blacklock last lived on the New York Giants’ practice squad in 2024.

Blacklock’s Background

The aforementioned Giants signed Blacklock to their practice squad in mid-December 2024. Although a futures contract typically implies an opportunity to compete for a spot on the 2025 summer roster, his tenure was brief, as he was released before the offseason concluded.

The 27-year-old defensive lineman has played in 44 NFL games, starting three and accumulating 40 total tackles, 9 quarterback hits, 5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. A 2nd-Round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2020 NFL Draft, Blacklock saw his most extensive action with them in 2022, playing 455 defensive snaps.

About four years ago, the Vikings acquired Blacklock and a 7th-Round pick from Houston in exchange for a 6th-Round pick. However, the TCU product struggled to establish himself in Minnesota, playing just 139 defensive snaps before his release in the summer of 2023, following the emergence of Jonathan Bullard and Jaquelin Roy. Blacklock was notably one of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s initial trade acquisitions.

Since his release from Minnesota, Blacklock has moved between five different teams without securing a permanent role, suggesting a career on a downward trajectory. Nevertheless, a recent contract with the Falcons offers him at least one more opportunity.

This is his full resume:

• Houston Texans (2020–2021)
• Minnesota Vikings (2022)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (2023)
• Indianapolis Colts (2023)
• Tennessee Titans (2023)
• New York Giants (2024)
• Atlanta Falcons (2026–now)

The DT Unit in Atlanta

Here’s the revised list of defensive tackles for the Falcons after Blacklock’s contract:

• Zach Harrison
• Maason Smith
• Brandon Dorlus
• Da’Shawn Hand
• LaCale London
• Chris Williams
• Elijah Garcia
• Carlos Allen Jr.
• Anterio Thompson
• Ben Stille
• Ross Blacklock

Blacklock hopes to climb the pecking order a few spots to make the September roster.

The New Faces for Falcons

Atlanta was one of the league’s busier teams during free agency, adding these men in the last two months:

• Jake Bailey | P (MIA → ATL)
• Samson Ebukam | ED (IND → ATL)
• Nick Folk | K (NYJ → ATL)
• Tyler Goodson | RB (IND → ATL)
• Darren Hall | CB (ARI → ATL)
• Da’Shawn Hand | DL (LAC → ATL)
• Christian Harris | LB (HOU → ATL)
• Darnay Holmes | CB (LV → ATL)
• Austin Hooper | TE (NE → ATL)
• Corey Levin | C (TEN → ATL)
• Azeez Ojulari | ED (PHI → ATL)
• Brian Robinson | RB (NYJ → ATL)
• Trevor Siemian | QB (TEN → ATL)
• Tua Tagovailoa | QB (MIA → ATL)
• Jawaan Taylor | RT (KC → ATL)
• Cam Thomas | ED (CLE → ATL)
• Channing Tindall | LB (ARI → ATL)
• Chris Williams | DL (CHI → ATL)
• Olamide Zaccheaus | WR (CHI → ATL)

And from the draft, the Falcons onboarded this class:

• Round 2 — Avieon Terrell (Clemson | CB)
• Round 3 — Zachariah Branch (Georgia | WR)
• Round 4 — Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma | LB)
• Round 6 — Anterio Thompson (Washington | DT)
• Round 6 — Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU | LB)
• Round 7 — Ethan Oniwanwa (Ohio St. | G)

Bleacher Report‘s Brent Sobleski graded the Falcons’ offseason with a C+ grade this week, noting, “The hiring of a two-time NFL head coach of the Year in Kevin Stefanski, who serves as his own offensive play-caller, and offensive line coach Bill Callahan should help maximize this group. The biggest issue remains the uncertainty around last year’s rookie standout James Pearce Jr.”

“The 2025 first-round pick agreed to enter an intervention program, which allowed him to avoid trial on felony domestic violence charges. Significant talent can be found on Atlanta’s roster. The group needs to come together under its new leadership so the Falcons can finally take over the NFC South.”

Blacklock will turn 28 this summer.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker