Atlanta Falcons claim waivers from former Michigan Wolverines, New England Patriots

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons’ player acquisition process continued throughout the year Tuesday, this time tackling the offensive line with a former University of Michigan alum turned draft pick of the New England Patriots.

The Falcons claimed offensive guard Andrew Stueber off waivers from the Patriots, who parted ways with Stueber on Monday, according to ESPN. Atlanta waived undrafted free agent wide receiver JaQuae Jackson in a corresponding move.

Stueber, 24, started all 20 games for Michigan from 2020-21 and was voted a third-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association following his fifth senior season in 2021.

New England selected Stueber 245th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he never played a regular season game. A torn hamstring sidelined him for his rookie season and he spent 2023 on the team’s practice squad.

Stueber, 6-foot-6, 317 pounds, played both right tackle and right guard at Michigan, but spent his tenure with the Patriots as a guard.

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In Atlanta, Stueber joins an interior offensive line room filled with continuity under coach Dwayne Ledford. The Falcons return both starting guards, Matthew Bergeron and Chris Lindstrom, as well as center Drew Dalman.

Top reserves Ryan Neuzil and Kyle Hinton are also back in the fold, as is 2023 seventh-round pick Jovaughn Gwyn.

At tackle, the Falcons also have several returners, including starters Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary and backups Tyler Vrabel and Storm Norton.

NFL teams often have eight or nine offensive linemen on their 53-man roster, and the Falcons have a solid group behind a fully cemented starting five. As such, the path to a post-training camp doesn’t seem likely for Stueber, but he’ll nonetheless have the chance to fight for one this summer.

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