2026 NFL Draft Grades: Atlanta Falcons

The final line of my grade for the Falcons' 2025 draft read, "The real hit -- the key reason I gave Atlanta this 'C' -- was trading away the 2026 first-rounder." Well, it didn't help this year's grade, either. Partially due to that 20-pick jump up the board last April to get James Pearce Jr., the Falcons came into draft weekend this year with just five picks. The first was No. 48, midway through Day 2.

It's tough to tackle needs with just five non-first-rounders at your disposal, but the new Falcons braintrust of GM Ian Cunningham, coach Kevin Stefanski and president of football Matt Ryan did its best. And I think the Falcons left Day 2 with two really, really good players. Both Avieon Terrell and Zachariah Branch spent time in my top 25 during the season, and they were both on my "favorite players in the class" list.

Let's start with Terrell -- the brother of Falcons corner A.J. Terrell Jr. What a story this is, two brothers lining up in the same NFL secondary. The younger Terrell will be a nickel in the pros, with 5-foot-11, 186-pound size. But like his brother, he's very good in press coverage. He plays a physical brand of football despite his frame, and he can turn and run with the fastest receivers in the league. He could spell Mike Hughes, who had been penciled in as Dee Alford's replacement over the slot.

Speaking of speed and smaller frames, Branch is lightning quick. At 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, he isn't going to outmuscle many defenders, but with his 4.35 speed and elusiveness, he can just run past them. That explosion lends itself to yards after the catch, which will be key for Atlanta. The Falcons leaned on that last season, with 5.7 yards after the catch per reception (sixth in the NFL), and Tua Tagovailoa -- who could start at least until Michael Penix Jr. is back off his ACL injury -- got the ball out faster than everyone not named Aaron Rodgers last season. Toss in his return-game skills, and this is another really good Day 2 pick.

The rest of the selections left a lot to be desired, though. Atlanta didn't take an offensive tackle until Ethan Onianwa in Round 7. Harold Perkins Jr. has a chance to make an impact, but coach Kevin Stefanski needs to figure out his real position. No first-rounder and only a handful of selections hurt the Falcons, but their Day 3 haul wasn't very impressive.

Can't blame a new regime led by former MVP Matt Ryan for the desperate sins of the previous one — namely the misguided decision to use this year's first-rounder to get pass rusher James Pearce in Round 1 of the 2025 draft. And while Pearce played well as a rookie, he already faces serious legal issues — and his character raised some concerning questions throughout the pre-draft process a year ago. But credit Ryan and rookie GM Ian Cunningham for making lemonade, second-round CB Avieon Terrell, brother of Falcons CB A.J. Terrell Jr., and third-round KR/WR Zachariah Branch both likely to be immediate contributors — Branch a potential fixture on special teams and maybe also taking over for departed Darnell Mooney as a deep threat.

Best Pick: Third-round receiver Zachariah Branch can flat out fly. He isn't a big receiver, but he will give the offense some real juice in the passing game. He can also help in the return game.

Worst Pick: Depending on legal issues, it could be the trade they made with this year's first-round pick to get back into the first round last year to take James Pearce Jr. He's a good player, but he has some legal problems to work through.

The Skinny: Without a first-round pick, it's hard to be excited. But taking Avieon Terrell in the second and Branch in the third gives them two players I liked.

After trading the rights to their first-round selection a year ago to nab James Pearce Jr., the Falcons had to wait until No. 48 overall to make their first choice. But they certainly made it worth it, bringing Avieon Terrell to town to play with his older brother, A.J., already a Pro Bowler for the club.

The good vibes continued into the third round with Atlanta nabbing local product Zachariah Branch at No. 79 overall. The Georgia wideout will offer this offense even more burst and big-play potential.

However, after the fun start, the Falcons crash-landed on Day 3, by taking fliers on twitchy (but highly inconsistent) rushers Anterio Thompson and Harold Perkins.

A reminder: it's always going to be more difficult to get a higher grade when you're working with less draft capital. The Falcons made a big swing in 2025 for James Pearce Jr., limiting their resources here.

Avieon Terrell playing in the same secondary as his brother is a cool story, although he is a much different cornerback. He does his best work with his awareness when everything is in front of him, making plays on ball careers (notably short area targets). I had concerns on tape about his speed in man coverage, which is why he didn't make my top 50.

I love the speed and playmaking in the short area of the field that Zachariah Branch brings to this offense, where he can also help as a returner. Daniels is a big linebacker who converted from safety, but he is raw at that position and doesn't have the athleticism to always make up for his lack of instincts. He went way earlier than I expected.

The late day three pick I like is Harold Perkins Jr., who can play in space but might get some pass rush (or blitzing) opportunities on passing downs in Jeff Ulbrich's scheme. Perkins also played special teams early in his college career, giving more versatility for a depth defender.

Here's why: Going into this weekend without a first-rounder (and fifth-rounder), the Falcons didn't make their first selection until grabbing Avieon Terrell out of Clemson at pick No. 48. They then rounded out Night 2 with wide receiver Zachariah Branch out of Georgia, a double-dip of family ties and a local prospect that almost seemed like an olive branch to a beaten-down fan base.

Terrell gives the Falcons a cornerback with actual talent that they've needed for a few years to pair opposite of his brother, A.J. Terrell. Avieon's feistiness is infectious, and he even has slot versatility, too. This was a good pick for his range and what Atlanta needs, even without considering the heartwarming family ties. The Falcons needed secondary pass-catchers to work around Drake London (and Kyle Pitts, at least for now) and went with the speedy, big-play threat. Branch's diet in college consisted of a lot of screens and manufactured touches, so he will have to develop more branches on his route tree to be a more valid threat down the field, but he gives the Falcons a different flavor of pass catcher than they've had in recent years. The Falcons then spent Day 3 attempting to boost the spine of their defense with do-it-all linebacker Kendal Daniels, defensive tackle Anterio Thompson, and slot defender Harold Perkins.

Most interesting pick: Kendal Daniels, LB, Oklahoma

Daniels did everything at Oklahoma and has real length and range as a player. While some teams might struggle to figure out where to put Daniels, he fits well in Jeff Ulbrich's defense that thrives with tweener types who can blitz or drop in coverage on any given snap, especially on passing downs. Daniels might be a special teamer and rotational player to start, but he can affect the game in a variety of ways, and he went to a spot that will get the most out of him. And the Falcons decided to double-dip on tweener types with Harold Perkins Jr. out of LSU at the end of the sixth round.

The Falcons came into this draft lacking capital after sending their first-rounder to the Rams as part of the trade-up move for James Pearce Jr. last year. Most of the punch in this class came in the form of the team's first two picks: They kicked things off in the second round by nabbing wily cornerback Avieon Terrell, reuniting the feisty playmaker with his brother A.J. It's a heartwarming story but also makes sense from a football point of view, giving Atlanta another versatile defensive back who can play outside or in the slot. I also really liked their selection of receiver Zachariah Branch in the third round. The former Georgia star brings electric speed and explosive acceleration with the ball in his hands. He's a nice complement to Drake London and can operate in the short and intermediate area, where his skill set becomes an extension of the run game. Overall, Atlanta's draft class lacks oomph, and both Terrell and Branch are sub-190 pounds. I think both guys will be immediate contributors, but it's still tough to grade this haul too highly.

Analysis: Terrell getting to play with his older brother, A.J., is more than a feel-good story. The younger Terrell can certainly contribute as a versatile cornerback who plays bigger than his 5' 11", 184-pound frame. Atlanta also made an excellent pick in the third round, with Branch coming aboard to finally help Drake London and a thin receiving corps. Branch can play from the slot and stretch the field with his speed, having run a 4.35 40-yard dash at the combine. Given that they didn't have a first-round pick, the Falcons came out pretty well in the 2026 draft by adding talent and addressing needs.