Campbell was initially recruited to play on the edge at Alabama, but he developed an all-around game that could make the Falcons quite happy if he's available here. This SEC star should prove himself to be an apt blitzer in the NFL and he will use his speed to track down ball-carriers before they hit the sideline.

Linebackers are treated like running backs in drafts, and it's led to plenty of teams getting very good players at a discount. The Falcons have to address their pass rush in the draft, but they could use help at LB too, and there will be other good pass-rushers available in the second. I don't know if there will be an LB like Jihaad Campbell available.

Walker heads right down the road from Athens to bring his infectious play to a defense badly needing some juice. Any defensive position makes sense for the Falcons here, and while Walker is a bit of a 'tweener between off-ball linebacker and pass rusher, the Falcons need both. Just get him into this front seven.

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.