The Atlanta Falcons have parted ways with defensive back Malcolm DeWalt IV, releasing the undrafted free agent from the active roster on Thursday, the team announced.
The move comes less than two months into the regular season for a player who had earned a spot on the team’s initial 53-man roster after a strong showing in training camp and the preseason.
DeWalt, 24, took a winding path through college football before arriving in the NFL. He began at Snow College, a junior college, then moved to Butte College for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
From there he transferred to Akron, where he spent his final two years of eligibility. At the FBS level he appeared in 23 games and logged 43 tackles along with two interceptions.
He started a dozen of those contests and developed a reputation as a physical, aggressive cover man who could contribute in multiple ways in the secondary.
Atlanta signed him shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft, viewing him as a developmental piece with enough upside to compete for playing time.
He survived the final roster cuts in late August and joined a cornerback room that already featured established names.
While he did not accumulate significant regular-season statistics in his brief time with the club, his ability to make the roster as a rookie undrafted free agent was viewed as an early success.
Roster decisions at this stage of the year often reflect a combination of performance, depth needs, and future planning.
Teams frequently trim younger players who have shown flashes but are not yet ready for consistent snaps, with the understanding that they may return to the practice squad if they clear waivers.
DeWalt’s combination of size, speed, and college production gives him a realistic chance of landing elsewhere or remaining in Atlanta’s system in a reduced capacity.
For an undrafted prospect still only months into his professional career, the release is a setback rather than a definitive end.
The Falcons continue to refine their secondary as they navigate the middle of the season. Moves like this one free up a roster spot while allowing the organization to evaluate whether DeWalt’s skill set fits their longer-term plans.
For the player himself, the next step will be monitoring the waiver wire and practice-squad opportunities across the league.
His journey from junior college to an NFL roster already demonstrated resilience; how he responds to this latest challenge will determine whether that path continues in Atlanta or somewhere else.
