Falcons Sign Veteran DT Da'Shawn Hand to One-Year Deal

Hand looks to build on career-best season with Chargers in 2025

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:49pm

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The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with veteran defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand, according to a league source. Hand, a former fourth-round pick of the Detroit Lions, is coming off a 2025 season with the Los Angeles Chargers in which he started a career-high 13 games and set personal bests in quarterback hits and tackles for loss.

Why it matters

The Falcons are looking to bolster their defensive line after a disappointing 2025 season, and Hand represents a low-risk, high-upside signing as they aim to return to the playoffs. Hand has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but when healthy, he has shown the ability to be a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line.

The details

Hand signed a one-year "prove-it" deal with the Chargers last offseason after bouncing around the league for a few years. In 2025, he started a career-high 13 games and set personal bests in quarterback hits, tackles for loss, and even recorded his first career interception. However, Hand's career has been plagued by injuries, as he has missed significant time in previous seasons due to knee, elbow, ankle, and groin issues.

  • Hand signed a one-year deal with the Chargers in 2025.
  • In 2025, Hand started a career-high 13 games for the Chargers.

The players

Da'Shawn Hand

A veteran defensive tackle who has struggled with injuries throughout his NFL career, but had a breakout 2025 season with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Atlanta Falcons

An NFL team looking to bolster their defensive line after a disappointing 2025 season, signing Da'Shawn Hand to a one-year, $3 million contract.

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What’s next

The Falcons will hope that Hand can stay healthy and build on his career-best 2025 season, providing a boost to their defensive line as they look to return to the playoffs in 2026.

The takeaway

This signing represents a low-risk, high-upside move for the Falcons as they aim to improve their defensive line. If Hand can stay healthy and replicate his 2025 performance, he could be a valuable addition to their roster. However, his injury history remains a concern, and the Falcons will need to carefully manage his workload to get the most out of him.