The Falcons emphasized fit with the 2026 draft class

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Zachariah Branch #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Ole Miss Rebels during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images At times during the most chaotic years under Thomas Dimitroff and Terry Fontenot, you could be forgiven for thinking the front office was throwing darts. There were plenty of talented players selected, of course, and in years like 2016 and 2022 you could see players being acquired specifically for coaching staffs excited to utilize them.

With shifts to the coaching staff and a sometimes ill-advised laser focus on filling specific needs, though, the Falcons have not always or even often landed stellar fits in their draft classes. Time will tell with this one, but it’s pretty obvious team fit was on the minds of Matt Ryan, Ian Cunningham, and Kevin Stefanski as this class came together. They got a cornerback who smooths out their persistent coverage issues opposite A.

J. Terrell and will have an excellent rapport with him because…well, because he’s literally his brother. They got a receiver who can thrive on the screens Stefanski loves to run and has the speed to be either a pest on crossers for Tua Tagovailoa or difficult to corral on deep shots from Michael Penix Jr.

They nabbed a pair of intriguing, hyper-athletic linebackers for Jeff Ulbrich to work with, one in the mold of Divine Deablo and De’Vondre Campbell and the other a sort of positionless chimera who can impact the quarterback from multiple spots. They grabbed another defensive tackle most comfortable in an attacking front, one with quiet promise as both a pass rusher and a run defender. And they capped things off with a mountainous offensive line prospect for Bill Callahan to try to turn into at least a useful reserve.