The Atlanta Falcons are still dealing with the fallout from James Pierce Jr.’s arrest, and while his 2026 playing status has yet to be officially announced, the rookie faces five felony charges and a possible suspension before taking the field again.
As the Falcons prepare for the start of NFL free agency, they should at least be looking for an interim replacement for Pierce. A potential replacement for Atlanta’s Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist just emerged.
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The Miami Dolphins waived veteran pass rusher Bradley Chubb on Monday in an attempt to free up some salary cap space before the new season starts next month.
Chubb, 29, is a two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher who has 48 sacks and 15 forced fumbles since being drafted fifth overall by the Denver Broncos in 2018. As a rookie, Chubb finished with 12 sacks, a record he would not break for the next seven years.
The North Carolina State product had the second-best season of his career in 2023, totaling 11 sacks. Chubb missed the entire 2024 season due to a torn ACL, but he returned in 2025 with an 8.5 sack season.
The Dolphins also waived wide receiver Tyreek Hill and offensive lineman James Daniels. Those moves, along with the release of receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikoin, freed up more than $50 million in cap space for Miami in 2026.
Aside from Chubb, Falcons fans probably wouldn’t mind seeing Tyreek Hill come to Atlanta in 2026. The speedy receiver is one of the most dominant players in the NFL when healthy, and the Falcons need help at the wide receiver position.
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We’ll have to wait and see what general manager Ian Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski do when free agency arrives in March.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Can Bradley Chubb replace James Pierce?
