Falcons find new No. 2 wide receiver in 2026 NFL mock draft

The Atlanta Falcons have one borderline elite wide receiver in Drake London, but they still lack depth at the position after the first month of NFL free agency. The team released veterans Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge at the start of the new league year. While Mooney was plagued by injuries in 2025, he's still a starting-caliber receiver when healthy.

He finished with just under 1,000 receiving yards one year ago. Hodge was a solid depth piece who made the Pro Bowl due to his special teams ability in 2024. The Falcons signed Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus as replacements in free agency, but this wide receiver group could use an injection of talent.

The team never found a capable replacement for slot receiver Ray-Ray McCloud last season, which is why the position remains a need despite adding Dotson and Zaccheaus. We fully expect the Falcons to look for an upgrade in the 2026 NFL Draft. Even without a first-round pick, Atlanta should be able to find a contributor at the wide receiver position.

SI draft analyst Justin Melo released a new two-round mock draft which projected the Falcons to take Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard in Round 2. Round 2, Pick No. 48: WR Germie Bernard, Alabama "The Atlanta Falcons intend to build around quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr.