Atlanta Falcons Sign CB Darnay Holmes

Holmes joins the Falcons after two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:32pm

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The Atlanta Falcons have signed cornerback Darnay Holmes, who joins the team after two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. Holmes was previously selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and has played in 54 games with 11 starts over his four-year career so far.

Why it matters

The Falcons are looking to bolster their secondary with the addition of Holmes, who has shown promise as a backup corner in the NFL. His signing adds depth and competition to the Falcons' defensive backfield as they aim to improve their pass defense.

The details

Holmes saw action in 29 games with one start during his two seasons with the Raiders. Prior to that, he was selected by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2020 draft and played in 54 games with 11 starts over his first four NFL seasons. Holmes has recorded four interceptions in his career so far and has only given up three touchdowns when in coverage, according to Pro Football Reference.

  • Holmes was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
  • Holmes played in 54 games with 11 starts over his first four NFL seasons with the Giants.
  • Holmes joined the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024 and played in 29 games with one start over the past two seasons.
  • The Atlanta Falcons have now signed Holmes for the 2026 season.

The players

Darnay Holmes

A cornerback who was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and has played the past two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders before signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

Chip Kelly

The former head coach of UCLA, where Darnay Holmes played college football and earned a reputation as a gritty role player.

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What they’re saying

“There is not a harder worker on our team, in terms of everything, and not just the physical part, but the mental part and his ability to diagnose what is going on, his ability to put himself in the position to make plays.”

— Chip Kelly, Former UCLA Head Coach

The takeaway

The addition of Darnay Holmes provides the Falcons with a talented and experienced cornerback who has shown the ability to make plays in coverage. His signing adds depth and competition to the Falcons' secondary as they look to improve their pass defense for the upcoming season.