The 2026 NFL Combine concluded last weekend with one of the most athletic groups on record. Testing and analytics are more important to teams than ever in this era, although we don’t yet know how critical that will be for the new Falcons regime of Matt Ryan, Kevin Stefanski, and Ian Cunningham.
With the Combine data now in the books, this is the perfect opportunity to take a look at how things have changed in the 2026 NFL Draft class. I’ll take you through a full seven-round mock draft for Atlanta,
this time with no trades allowed, to see how the board had shifted following the workouts in Indianapolis.
Before we jump in to the mock, let’s take a look at the Falcons’ current haul of draft picks.
What are the Falcons current draft picks?
- Round 2, Pick 48
- Round 3, Pick 79
- Round 4, Pick 114
- Round 6, Pick 196
- Round 7, Pick 231
This is the written version, but you can also find the mock draft in two alternate forms as well. On our YouTube channel:
The mock is also available on all your favorite podcast platforms! You can listen to it directly here:
Round 2, Pick 48: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
To say that the arrest of star rookie James Pearce Jr. has thrown a wrench into the Falcons plans for the edge rusher room would be a massive understatement. We’ll see how that ultimately plays out, but the team would be wise to operate as if Pearce was unavailable for the foreseeable future. That means edge rockets back to the top of needs list, particularly with multiple free agents hitting the market. Jalon Walker will likely handle one of the starting spots, but the room still needs a lot of work.
I was hoping UCF legend Malachi Lawrence would stay under the radar and be a potential third-round option, but his impressive Combine has ended those hopes. That being said, Lawrence is definitely a worthy second round pick. He’s got an ideal frame (6’4, 253) with good length and explosiveness, checking the boxes you need to see. Lawrence is an advanced rusher with a number of moves and good hand usage, making his pathway to early playing time clear. He needs to improve his run defense and gap discipline, but all the tools are there for a quality NFL starter.
Round 3, Pick 79: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
This is a deep receiver class on Day 2. Someone will fall to the Falcons in the third round, which is why I’m in favor of going elsewhere with the second rounder. In this scenario, it was Tennessee speedster Chris Brazzell II, who posted a blazing 4.37s 40 at the Combine. Brazzell is best known for his field-stretching ability, but there’s more nuance to his game than you might expect. Tennessee’s offense does make it a little challenging to evaluate receivers for the NFL, but Brazzell clearly has translatable talent.
Brazzell is a big-bodied outside receiver at 6’5, 200 who dominates down the field. He’s a threat on every single play and will demand the attention of safeties, opening up the offense for Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. I really appreciated the growth from Brazzell in terms of his route tree and technique this season, and think he’s more than just a deep threat. He hasn’t been tested against press and will likely struggle there early in his career, and I’d like to see him perform better in contested catch situations. Still, Brazzell offers WR2 upside in an aggressive downfield passing attack like what Atlanta could turn to with Penix at the helm.
Round 4, Pick 114: DT DeMonte Capehart, Clemson
The Falcons are going young on the defensive line with Brandon Dorlus, Zach Harrison, and Ruke Orhorhoro, but they still don’t have a run-stuffing specialist in the middle. Luckily, this is a deep class, and someone is likely to fall into the early Day 3 range. Atlanta has already shown interest in Clemson defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, who had a tremendous workout at the NFL Combine and vaulted himself into the fourth round conversation.
Capehart is a physical interior defender with terrific size (6’5, 313, nearly 34” arms) and better-than-expected athleticism. At the moment his game is predicated on strength and effort, and that works well against the run. He’s a very unrefined pass rusher who primarily relies on a bull rush, but his traits give up upside to eventually become a more impactful player on passing downs. This is exactly the type of player the Falcons have collected on the defensive line over the past several years, and I’m guessing they’ll continue to lean on Nate Ollie’s talent for coaching up athletes.
Round 6, Pick 196: CB Jadon Canady, Oregon
The Falcons will need to figure out the slot cornerback position until Billy Bowman returns from injury. Perhaps Dee Alford is re-signed, but even if that happens, Atlanta could use more depth in the secondary. Oregon’s Jadon Canady is a slot-only prospect given his size (5’11, 180), but his tape is a lot better than you’d expect for someone in this range of the draft.
Canady put together a strong senior season with just 17 receptions allowed (1 TD) on 37 targets, good for a passer rating of just 39.4. He notched two interceptions and six PBUs, showing off some ballhawking ability. He’s a willing tackler in run support, but his size limits his upside in that area. Canady’s coverage instincts are outstanding and he can operate in both man and zone coverage. His limitations might keep him from becoming an NFL starter, but he’ll be a reliable backup who can boost a team’s coverage.
Round 7, Pick 231: TE Riley Nowakowski, Indiana
The Falcons made the decision to franchise tag tight end Kyle Pitts, which gives the team a top receiving target at the position (for now, anyway). Other decisions could be made in the coming days with regards to the other tight ends on the roster, most notably Charlie Woerner. His release could save Atlanta $4.75M in cap space, which is pretty significant for a blocking specialist.
If the team moves on from Woerner, they’ll need at least one more capable blocker on the roster. My guess is an affordable veteran is added alongside a draft pick, and one of my favorites is Indiana’s Riley Nowakowski. Nowakowski is a phenomenal and experienced blocker who punches above his size (6’2, 250) in both the run and pass game. He also added some receiving production to his game in 2025, showing off reliable hands and fearlessness over the middle. Nowakowski is a great value add in this draft and could eventually cement himself as a better-than-expected TE2 in Atlanta.
What do you think about this potential draft class for the Falcons? Leave your draft takes in the comments below!
