The Atlanta Falcons had their first draft under a new regime as the organization hopes to break through in the NFC South. How would the 2026 rookie class look using the Wolf Sports big board?
Actual selections
2.48: CB Avieon Terrell
3.79: WR Zachariah Branch
4.134: LB Kendal Daniels
6.208: DL Anterio Thompson
6.215: LB Harold Perkins Jr.
7.231: OT Ethan Onianwa
Wolf Sports selections
2.48: CB D’Angelo Ponds
3.79: WR Chris Brazzell II
4.134: G DJ Campbell
6.208: LB Harold Perkins Jr.
6.215: TE John Michael Gyllenborg
7.231: WR Deion Burks
Thoughts
Atlanta was without a first-round pick after trading up for James Pearce Jr. last year, but they were able to get good value on Day 2 by getting Avieon Terrell—who could immediately push for a starting job across from his former All-Pro brother A.J. Terrell Jr. While the younger Terrell could also factor into the slot, Billy Bowman Jr. is the likely starter there, and in general, the Falcons have plenty of competition with Clark Phillips III hopefully healthy and Darnay Holmes signed in free agency.
In the third round, Atlanta was able to get a local product with Zachariah Branch falling to them, and he should form a nice trio with Drake London and Jahan Dotson at wide receiver.
Our first two selections happen to be at the same positions, but we would have gone with D’Angelo Ponds at cornerback—creating an extremely exciting young core of Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., Xavier Watts, and Ponds as all players we were very high on—and Chris Brazzell II at wide receiver.
For the Day 3 selections, Harold Perkins Jr. is a similarity in the sixth round, and it’ll be fun to see him utilized as a versatile piece in Jeff Ulbrich’s defense—especially with Jalon Walker also capable of being an off-ball linebacker in addition to making an impact on the edge; it’s essentially the opposite for Perkins as a primary off-ball linebacker who can rusher the passer.
Beyond that, the trio of Kendal Daniels, Anterio Thompson, and Ethan Onianwa will be compared to DJ Campbell, John Michael Gyllenborg, and Deion Burks—as we’ll see if any of them can turn into a hit in the coming years.