The New York Giants have added some defensive firepower, signing former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Khalid Kareem to their roster this week. The 28-year-old edge rusher, originally a fifth-round draft pick in 2020, brings a veteran presence to a Giants squad looking to bolster its depth for the upcoming season.
Kareem's NFL journey has been a tour of the league. After starting his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent two seasons, he moved on to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. A brief stint with the Chicago Bears followed in 2023, where he appeared in just one game before landing in Atlanta. Over the last two seasons with the Falcons, Kareem suited up for six games, recording 11 tackles (five solo), one pass defended, and one quarterback hit. Now, he'll look to make an impact in New York's defensive rotation.
The Giants, under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, are clearly in a rebuilding and retooling phase. Harbaugh, fresh off an 18-year tenure in Baltimore, is wasting no time reshaping the roster. In addition to Kareem, the Giants have also signed former Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who spent the last two seasons in Atlanta. These moves signal a focus on adding experienced, versatile players to the mix.
Meanwhile, the Falcons have let a few familiar faces test the free-agent market. Edge rusher Leonard Floyd, quarterback Easton Stick, and linebacker Josh Woods are all still unsigned. Given the inevitable toll of injuries over a long season, don't be surprised if Atlanta circles back for a reunion with one or more of these players down the road.
For fans keeping an eye on the Falcons' 2026 schedule, it's a gauntlet from the jump. They open at Pittsburgh, host Carolina in Week 2, and then face a brutal stretch with Thursday, Monday, and Sunday night games against Green Bay, New Orleans, and Baltimore. A Week 11 bye offers a breather before a tough finish against the likes of Detroit and Kansas City. It's a schedule that will test any team's depth—making every roster move, like Kareem's departure, matter even more.