Falcons reportedly sign EDGE Keshawn Banks and DT Devonnsha Maxwell after UFL run

The Atlanta Falcons are adding two defensive linemen back to the NFL, with reports saying the team has signed edge rusher Keshawn Banks and defensive tackle Devonnsha Maxwell after their time in the UFL. The moves, first reported by Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, underscore how quickly pro football teams are scouting outside the traditional NFL pipeline to find proven, game-tested defenders.

Banks is an edge defender who played college football at San Diego State. Per the reporting, he previously entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers before taking his pro career through the UFL. Now, the Falcons are bringing him into the mix on a defense that values rotation options along the front and the ability to generate pressure in multiple looks.

Devonnsha Maxwell is a defensive tackle, another player whose path includes the UFL before returning to the NFL with Atlanta. Defensive tackles are often evaluated on consistency at the point of attack, ability to occupy blockers, and stamina across a full game, especially in systems that ask linemen to play both run defense and interior pass coverage responsibilities. Maxwell’s addition gives the Falcons another body for the middle of the defensive front as training camp approaches.

The specific contract details, the terms of the deals, and the current depth-chart impacts were not provided in the initial reporting. For that reason, it is best to view the signings as roster-building steps rather than definitive projections for immediate starting roles. In the offseason, teams typically look for players who can contribute on special packages, earn a role through camp performance, and provide reliable snaps during the regular season.

What these signings reflect, more than anything, is the modern crossover between leagues. Players who log extended reps in spring football environments can return to the NFL with a clearer, more immediate sense of how pro offenses move and how game speeds translate. For teams, that information matters, particularly when offseason roster spots are limited and the margin for error is small.

From a Falcons perspective, adding Banks and Maxwell also widens the defensive-front combination possibilities. Edge defenders and interior tackles each affect how a defense is structured in third-down situations and how it handles offensive run concepts. Even if neither player is slotted as a starter on day one, depth at both positions can allow the coaching staff to move faster through schemes and maintain fresher legs over the course of a long season.

The next thing to watch is whether Atlanta makes further moves to round out the defensive line, and how both players are used in early team sessions and preseason-type work. If they show they can translate their UFL production to the NFL game at the same pace, the Falcons will have added two pieces of defensive depth with a meaningful chance to earn larger roles. If not, the signings still serve a common offseason purpose: turning offseason uncertainty into evaluation opportunities on the practice field.