The Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft was supposed to fill a number of needs the team had, but they didn’t have many picks to do that. By the end of the draft, the team had made six selections and did not make a selection in rounds one or five. They lost several players in free agency, and out of 22 starters on offense and defense, 11 are scheduled to hit the market in 2027.
Not only did the Falcons draft for need, but for depth as well. The difficulty in being successful in any draft is amplified when a team has no clue what its identity is, and Atlanta fits that bill. They fired head coach Raheem Morris after his second consecutive 8-9 season, replacing him with former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski. It’s certainly not good for a team if hiring the Browns coach is an upgrade.
The team had spent a top-10 pick on a quarterback in the 2024 draft, and after just one season as the full-time starter, Michael Penix now has to compete with Tua Tagovailoa to keep his job. Until the team knows who they are and what they want to do, it doesn’t really matter who they pick, because that lack of certainty will remain, no matter whose names are called at the podium. Here is what Atlanta did with their selections.
Round 2, Pick 48: Avieon Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson
On the surface, selecting the brother of Falcons’ starting cornerback AJ Terrell so that they can play together in the NFL seems like a cute story, but that’s not the only reason for the pick. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Avieon Terrell was the 23rd-ranked prospect in the draft and the third-best cornerback. The fact that he was available with pick 48 was a blessing for the team, regardless of his bloodline.
Billy Bowman or Mike Ford could be the starting nickel corner for the Falcons next year, but neither is a lock. Terrell could leapfrog them and start week one as a rookie. He was a third-team All-American last year for the Tigers, recording five forced fumbles, nine pass break-ups, and no interceptions. His 4.39 forty speed is more than adequate, and despite needing other positions more than CB, getting a first-round talent at pick 48 is too good to pass up.
Round 3, Pick 79: Zachariah Branch, Wide Receiver, Georgia
Another fun story in any draft is taking a hometown kid, and with the 79th pick, the Falcons went with Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch. The not-so-fun story is his arrest before the draft for a number of reasons, primarily the unknown factor. Was it deserved, or was it racially charged? Either way, it had the potential to torpedo a young man’s draft position.
On the field, Branch is a great fit with the Falcons. He is a 5’9 with blazing speed (4.35), and while he can play outside, he fits great in the slot between Drake London and Jahan Dotson. Last season, he amassed 81 receptions (a Georgia school record) for 811 yards and six touchdowns. Branch was the 75th overall prospect, so 79 is not a reach, and considering lower-ranked prospects Malachi Fieldsa nd Ted Hurst were taken before him, it was a good value selection.
Round 4, Pick 134: Kendal Daniels, LB/ED/S, Oklahoma
The selection of Kendal Daniels in round four is interesting, and whether it’s good or bad depends on how the Falcons plan to use him. He’s listed at three different positions across multiple draft websites, which is a testament to his versatility. He has the size of an edge rusher (6’5 and 245 pounds), but he played safety for four years at Oklahoma State before transferring to Oklahoma for 2025.
For the Sooners, Daniels played linebacker, recording 53 total tackles and nine for a loss. With Jessie Bates and Xavier Watts patrolling the deep secondary, it’s unlikely the fifth-year senior will play safety in the pros. Atlanta has James Pearce and Jalon Walker already on the edge from the linebacker position, but lacks talent at defensive end, so Daniels could fit there. The best-case scenario is the team uses him as a middle linebacker, and he dominates with his speed and athleticism from years in the secondary (like former Chicago Bear and Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, who was a safety at New Mexico).
Round 6, Pick 208: Anterio Thompson, Defensive Line, Washington
It’s hard to call anyone picked in rounds six or seven as a reach, but the Falcons did stretch at pick 208 to select Washington’s Anterio Thompson. He was unranked as a prospect on PFF, and according to the Mock Draft Database (MDDB) consensus board, he was the 401st-ranked player. New coach and new GM, but same old Atlanta, reaching for defensive line help (Ruke Orhorhoro was a head-scratcher at 35 in 2024).
The team is drafting for need here, as Maason Smith is not expected to set the world on fire from the middle of the defensive line. The question is, could they have gotten their guy as an undrafted free agent? Thompson played for three schools in three years before turning pro, and didn’t exactly dominate at any of them. Landon Robinson was still on the board at 208 and was regarded as a better prospect by most, so this pick didn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Round 6, Pick 215: Harold Perkins Jr, Linebacker, LSU
Even though the Falcons potentially took their middle linebacker of the future 81 picks earlier, it doesn’t hurt to hedge the bet by taking someone who has experience playing the position. Perkins blew up as a true freshman, playing in 14 games for LSU, recording 72 tackles (13 for a loss) and 7.5 sacks. He tore his ACL in 2024, but came back last season and played well.
He doesn’t have the elite size as Daniels, standing just 6’1 and 223 pounds, but he is quicker off the block, and recorded a 4.45 forty. Should Atlanta choose to play a 3-4 defense, both rookies could end up starting quickly, since Christian Harris is underwhelming and Divine Deablo will hit free agency in the offseason.
Round 7, Pick 231: Ethan Onianwa, Tackle, Ohio State
Onianwa won’t threaten anyone on the offensive line for their starting spot, at least not in 2026. This is a depth pick, and if it doesn’t work out, it’s not a huge investment. He has decent size (6’6 and 335), but not much athleticism, not even when compared to other big men. It’s not a great pick, since there is a chance he won’t even make the team, but it’s not a horrible pick either.
Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft Grade: C
The Falcons got a steal right off the bat in round two and addressed a need in round three. If Daniels hits his potential, this could jump to an A- overall, but the reach for Thompson, and waiting until round seven to pick offensive line help dings the overall grade. The team is in a state of flux right now, could be eyeing a quarterback in the loaded 2027 class, and is just trying to skate by for a year. That’s not the kind of behavior that will get the war room on the honor roll.
