Charlie Campbell
Falcons Rookie Forecast 2026
Solid Starter
Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia – Round 3 
The Falcons were in need of a speed receiver across from Drake London, and they landed a special player with Branch. He was an outstanding value as a third-round pick, and Branch looks ready to make a quick impact for Atlanta.
Branch was an instant playmaker after going to USC as a freshman. He won the award as the nation’s top returner with an average of 21 yards per punt return, including a touchdown. He also averaged 18.4 yards per kick return while catching 31 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. In 2024, he caught 47 passes for 503 yards with a touchdown. In 2025, Branch transferred to Georgia and caught 81 passes for 811 yards with six touchdowns. He also contributed as a kick and punt returner.
For the NFL, Branch may not ever become a team’s No.1 wide receiver, but he could be a very good slot receiver. Branch is a smooth route-runner who doesn’t take extra steps in and out of his breaks. He has enough quickness through the route with shiftiness to generate separation from press coverage. For Georgia, Branch used his route-running and quickness to consistently generate separation.
What really sets Branch apart is his tremendous yards after the catch skills. He is electric with the ball in his hands to dodge defenders and weave through the secondary. Branch has rare elusiveness as a runner and is dynamic on screens and returns. Branch is also extremely fast and explosive to stretch defenses downfield and take the top off the defense. After the catch, Branch finds a second gear and has superb vision and instincts to continue to rip off yards when he looks like he is going to get tackled. When the ball is in his hands, Branch is a playmaker who can really hurt defenses.
The Falcons have veteran receivers Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus ahead of Branch entering training camp. Zaccheaus played well for the Bears last season, while Dotson has been disappointing since being a first-round pick by Washington. During his rookie season, I think Branch could replace Dotson and turn into a solid starting receiver and a starter on special teams.
2025: Jalon Walker, OLB
2024: Ruke Orhorhoro, DT
2023: Matthew Bergeron, G
2022: Arnold Ebiketie, DE
2021: Richie Grant, S
2020: Marlon Davidson, DT
2019: Kendall Sheffield, CB
2018: Calvin Ridley, WR
2017: Sean Harlow, G
2016: Austin Hooper, TE
2015: Vic Beasley, DE
2014: Jake Matthews, OT
2013: Desmond Trufant, CB
Most Likely To Bust
NONEThe Falcons were without a first-round pick after trading up for James Pearce in the 2025 NFL Draft. Of the 2026 draft class, neither of Atlanta’s day-two picks looks like a potential bust. If a day three pick does not work out, that really is not a bust, according to teams, because the overwhelming percentage of day three picks don’t stick in the NFL. I don’t see a bust from the Falcons 2026 draft class, and I think they will have some solid depth and value picks emerge.
2025: None
2024: Bralon Trice, DE
2023: Zach Harrison, DE
2022: Desmond Ridder, QB
2021: Jalen Mayfield, OT
2020: Matt Hennessy, C
2019: Kaleb McGary, OT
2018: Ito Smith, RB
2017: Takk McKinley, DE
2016: Deion Jones, LB
2015: Jalen Collins, CB
2014: Dez Southward, S
2013: Levine Toilolo, TE
Potential Boom Pick
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson – Round 2 
Clemson enjoyed a great career from cornerback A.J. Terrell. After impressing with the Tigers, Terrell was a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons and has turned into a very good pro. With that pedigree, there were big expectations and excitement for Avieon Terrell to turn into a good player for Clemson. Terrell worked his way onto the field as a freshman and had five starts. He recorded 19 tackles with four passes broken up and an interception. In 2024, Terrell started every game and totaled 58 tackles with two interceptions, 12 passes broken up, three forced fumbles, and 4.5 tackles for a loss. While Clemson had a disappointing 2025 season, Terrell played well with 48 tackles, four forced fumbles, a sack, and nine passes batted.
In the passing-driven NFL, teams are always looking for cornerbacks who can play man coverage and shut down pro receivers. Some teams feel that some corners aren’t a good fit for man coverage, and that limits the schemes and teams those players can play for. With tremendous man coverage skills, Terrell looks like a future asset as a man-to-man cover corner in the NFL.
Terrell is a superb cornerback to run the route and prevent separation. In off-man coverage or press-man coverage, Terrell is very fast and has easy speed to run with wideouts and carry verticals down the field. Terrell is extremely loose, has zero stiffness, and is a very twitchy cornerback. With tremendous agility, Terrell can flip his hips and turn to stay in phase with receivers. When he is in off-man coverage, he shows impressive instincts to read the route and then explode to cover up the receiver after they make their break. Terrell is not strong enough to reroute NFL receivers in press man, but he has no problem turning and running with them downfield, blanketing them, and not allowing them to get open.
Terrell’s excellent speed, twitchy athleticism, and instincts make him an excellent zone corner. He reads plays well and shows good vision for diagnosing routes while also reading the eyes of the quarterback. Terrell’s twitch lets him explode to eat up ground and cover up receivers. He is very natural in zone coverage.
The big knock on Terrell (5-11, 180) for the NFL is his size. While he is a little shorter than ideal, Terrell’s weight is a bigger concern, and he is listed at only 180 pounds. Terrell plays stronger than his listed numbers, and he is a willing tackler. Terrell will fly downhill and into the backfield to make tackles, throwing his shoulder into ball carriers. Terrell also battles receivers hard, and he has very good ball skills. He times his breakups extremely well to smack the ball out. While Terrell is not tall or big, he battles receivers really well on 50-50 passes and has a knack for winning with a pass breakup. Terrell has impressive ball skills and is a threat to pick off passes. He is also very instinctive and ball aware to break out a “Peanut Punch” on ball carriers and strip them of the ball.
Given his size, there will be some concerns with durability, tackling at the pro level, and whether he will be limited to the slot. However, Terrell looks like a future starter, and he could be a valuable cover corner. With his brother drawing No. 1 outside receivers, I could see Avieon Terrell smothering No. 2 and slot receivers. I think Avieon Terrell has real boom pick potential for Atlanta.
2025: James Pearce Jr., DE
2024: Michael Penix Jr., QB
2023: Bijan Robinson, RB
2022: Drake London, WR
2021: Kyle Pitts, TE
2020: A.J. Terrell, CB
2019: Chris Lindstrom, G
2018: Isaiah Oliver, CB
2017: Duke Riley, LB
2016: Keanu Neal, S
2015: Tevin Coleman, RB
2014: Ra’Shede Hageman, DT
2013: Malliciah Goodman, DE
Future Depth Player
Harold Perkins, LB, LSU – Round 6 
Atlanta lost some veteran talent in free agency, and they have a wide-open depth chart at linebacker behind projected starters Christian Harris and Divine Deablo. Deablo is a similar style player to Perkins, so Deablo could provide a good example for Perkins in his efforts to adapt to the NFL. Sources felt that Perkins would have to go back to being used like his early years at LSU, and also be the force on special teams that he was during his freshman season. The Falcons also have a new coaching staff that is not loyal to the picks of the previous regime. Perkins landed with a team that will give him a true shot to make the 53-man roster, and he could end up sticking in Atlanta. He could be a good backup designated pass rusher, coverage linebacker, and special teams contributor. I think Perkins will at least become a good depth piece for Atlanta.
2025: Billy Bowman Jr., S
2024: Brandon Dorlus, DT
2023: Clark Phillips III, CB
2022: Tyler Allgeier, RB
2021: Darren Hall, CB
2020: Mykal Walker, LB
2019: Qadree Ollison, RB
2018: Russell Gage, WR
2017: Brian Hill, RB
2016: De’Vondre Campbell, LB
2015: Justin Hardy, WR
2014: Devonta Freeman, RB
2013: Robert Alford, CB
Walt