Falcons draft picks 2026: Full list of round-by-round selections

The Atlanta Falcons have one of the most unique situations of any team entering the 2026 NFL Draft.

Atlanta was one of three teams to part ways with its general manager this offseason and one of two teams to fire both its general manager and head coach. To add to the intrigue, the Falcons' new regime has little to work with. The team has no first-round pick in this year's draft – they traded their 2026 first to the Los Angeles Rams last year when they moved up to draft edge rusher James Pearce Jr.

Entering their first NFL draft together as the top leaders of the Falcons, head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Ian Cunningham might have to get creative with Atlanta's five picks.

The Falcons have some big questions to answer entering the 2026 season. Who will be their starting quarterback, third-year Michael Penix Jr. or veteran newcomer Tua Tagovailoa? Will Stefanski's offense find more success with what is, on paper, a more talented group of players? How close are the Falcons to contending for the NFC South title after the Saints and Panthers took leaps forward in 2025 while the Buccaneers regressed?

Atlanta's approach to the 2026 NFL Draft may not immediately answer any of those questions, but it will add clarity to this new regime's vision for the future.

Here's a look at the Falcons' draft picks, team needs and a mock draft of potential fits:

Falcons 2026 NFL Draft picks

The Falcons have five picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and none in the first round. Here's the complete list:

• Round 2, Pick 48: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
  • Analysis from USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis: He joins his brother and fellow DB A.J. Terrell in Atlanta, though Avieon will likely man the slot, where his brother is an outside corner. A tough, productive player, Avieon Terrell (5-11, 186) forced eight fumbles over the past two years.
• Round 3, Pick 79: WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
  • Diminutive (5-9, 177) but fast (4.35 speed), he can stretch the field in the ATL now that similarly built Darnell Mooney has moved on.
• Round 4, Pick 134 (from Raiders): LB Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma
  • Analysis from USA TODAY Sports: At 6-5 and 242, Daniels is somewhat stuck between a linebacker and safety role. Perhaps Jeff Ulbrich can bring out the best of him as an all-purpose playmaker, though.
• Round 6, Pick 208 (from Raiders): DT Anterio Thompson, Washington
  • Thompson tested very well at his Pro Day, which helped him earn a spot in the 2026 NFL Draft. He had 65 tackles and 2.5 sacks across three seasons at Iowa, Western Michigan, and Washington, and will fill a need for the Falcons, who needed additional help at the defensive tackle spot.
• Round 6, Pick 215 (from Eagles; compensatory pick): LB Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
  • Perkins has elite speed and was an explosive, versatile playmaker during his four seasons at LSU. He racked up 220 tackles, 35.5 sacks, 17 sacks, five interceptions and eight forced fumbles while playing at linebacker and on the edge. His lack of size (6-1, 223 pounds) will likely limit his ability to do the latter at the NFL level, but that won’t stop him from being a game changer off the ball. He could have been a late, Day 2 pick, so the Falcons are getting a steal at the end of the sixth round.
• Round 7, Pick 231: OT Ethan Onianwa, Ohio State
  • The Falcons are banking on Onianwa's potential. He was a reserve during his lone season at Ohio State after starting at left tackle for Rice but sports an NFL-caliber 6-7, 331-pound frame. Atlanta's starting right tackle, Kaleb McGary, retired during the offseason, so perhaps Onianwa will be able to eventually develop into a quality replacement.

Atlanta traded pick 122 to the Raiders for picks 134 and 208.

Falcons NFL draft grades

CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson - Round 2, Pick 48: Grade B+

The Falcons probably didn't have to dig deep on their research of Terrell, who's the younger brother of starting cornerback A.J. Terrell. This is more than just a fun story, though. The younger Terrell is aggressive yet refined, and he'll add to a back end that's added some promising young pieces in safety Xavier Watts and nickel Billy Bowman Jr. – Analysis from Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia -Round 3, Pick 79: Grade B

Branch is hardly a complete receiver after being fed a steady diet of screens at Georgia. At this juncture, however, his upside is hard to ignore. The speedster can break big plays in the return game and on quick hits as he works to refine his route running.

LB Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma - Round 4, Pick 134: Grade B-

DT Anterio Thompson, Washington - Round 6, Pick 208: Grade B-

LB Harold Perkins Jr., LSU - Round 6, Pick 215: Grade A

OT Ethan Onianwa, Ohio State - Round 7, Pick 231: Grade B

Falcons undrafted free agent signings

The Falcons continue to build their roster by signing undrafted free agents. You can follow the complete team-by-team list for all 32 here.

Falcons 2026 NFL Draft needs

Wide receiver

Drake London is the clear No. 1 option in this Falcons' offense, with tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson also providing upside as secondary pass-catchers. But Atlanta is still missing a true No. 2 receiver to pair with London on the outside – Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus are projected to be the team's other starters at wideout.

This draft class is deep enough at the receiver position for Atlanta to find a quality wide receiver on Day 2 – the Falcons' lack of a first-round pick won't prohibit them from upgrading that part of their roster. Several SEC receivers have been popular fits for Atlanta at 48 in recent mock drafts: Georgia's Zachariah Branch, Tennessee's Chris Brazzell II and Alabama's Germie Bernard

Defensive line

David Onyemata left for the Jets in free agency after three years of consistent starts on the Falcons' defensive interior. Brought in to help replace Onyemata is former Chargers defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand, but he's only on a one-year deal.

The Falcons ranked near the bottom of the NFL in rushing EPA and success rate allowed, as well as rushing yards allowed in 2025. Atlanta could use some young reinforcements up the middle on defense. The unit needs the help to lock down opposing rushers, especially in a division that features the Bucs' Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell, Panthers' Chuba Hubbard, and now, Travis Etienne joining Alvin Kamara and the Saints.

Falcons 2026 NFL mock draft

Here's what the Falcons could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly's seven-round mock draft:

• Round 2, Pick 48: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
• Round 3, Pick 79: Traded to Jaguars
• Round 3, Pick 88 (from Jaguars): CB Malik Muhammad, Texas
• Round 4, Pick 122 (from Eagles): OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M
• Round 6, Pick 215 (from Eagles): IOL Kobe Baynes, Kansas
• Round 7, Pick 231: TE DJ Rogers, TCU
• Round 7, Pick 233 (from Lions via Jaguars): LB Red Murdock, Buffalo