The Falcons were busy in the first wave of NFL free agency, adding a flurry of low to mid-range veterans on primarily one year deals. Special teams was reworked completely, and there are a number of new faces on the defensive line and at wide receiver. The depth of the roster was upgraded significantly, although questions remain about the caliber of starters in various positions.
General manager Ian Cunningham also executed his first trade by swapping picks with the Eagles in the fourth and sixth
rounds in exchange for safety Sydney Brown. That technically counts as a trade down, which means Cunningham has already tied Terry Fontenot in trade downs before his first draft even began. Something tells me Cunningham isn’t done trading, and that’ll be one of the things to watch in this week’s Falcons mock draft.
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 122
- Round 6, Pick 215
- 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: WR Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Based on the Falcons investments in free agency, they clearly plan to add at least one wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, the presence of a reliable veteran like Jahan Dotson does give the team a bit more flexibility with the type of receivers they may target. Given what I think this team wants to look like offensively, I’m going with a more long-term prospect as opposed to an instant-impact player, selecting North Dakota State’s Bryce Lance.
If you paid attention to the NFL Combine, Lance’s inclusion in the top-50 shouldn’t shock you. Lance blew the doors off the athletic testing, measuring in at nearly 6’3 and over 200 while running a 4.34s 40, jumping 41.5” in the vertical and 11’01” in the broad, and posting a 4.15s short shuttle. That’s good for a 9.95 RAS and makes him one of the premiere athletes at the position in this class. Lance is no slouch as a receiver either, dominating the FCS competition and building an impressive resume as a deep ball specialist.
Entering the NFL, that’s probably all you’re going to ask him to do right away. Lance needs to build up and refine his route tree to become a fully-fledged receiver, and he’s very inexperienced against press coverage. It’s also going to be a bit of a shock going up against NFL-caliber athletes as opposed to FCS-level ones. Lance is likely to be a slow starter, but the Falcons can afford to wait. That patience could pay off, potentially netting Atlanta a high-end WR2 to complement Drake London for the next several years.
TRADE — Round 3, Pick 98: CB Malik Muhammad, Texas
Falcons trade pick 79 (3rd) to the Eagles for picks 98 (3rd), 114 (4th), 137 (4th).
I have a pretty strong suspicion that Ian Cunningham isn’t done trading down. While the team elected to make a pick at 48, there will still be ample opportunity to trade down in the third round. In this scenario, the Eagles come calling once again with eyes on a falling prospect—offering Atlanta two fourth-rounders to move back nearly twenty spots in the third round. That’s a big move, but one that Cunningham might be tempted to accept.
The other spot that the Falcons didn’t significantly address in free agency was cornerback, and that’s another spot we’re likely to see major investment in. Mike Hughes is a solid but unspectacular CB2, and could be released in 2027 for a whopping $7M in cap savings. There’s also the matter of slot cornerback with Dee Alford’s departure and Billy Bowman’s injury, but one thing at a time. This a good corner class, and the Falcons take advantage by snagging a quality developmental prospect in Texas’ Malik Muhammad on the back end of Day 2.
Muhammad is a battle-tested corner who has faced a lot of talented wideouts at Texas, and that experience shows up in his tape. He’s got a good frame at 6’0 with over 32” arms, but plays quite light at 185 pounds. Athletically, Muhammad impresses with 4.42s speed and outstanding jumps—he posted an elite 9.58 RAS at the NFL Combine. His coverage ability and athleticism give him a high ceiling, but he needs to get stronger at the NFL level. Muhammad’s lack of size hurts his ability in run defense and against more physical wide receivers, but he’s got the potential to grow into a quality CB2 in time.
Round 4, Pick 114: LB/EDGE Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Acquired via trade with the Eagles.
The Falcons manage to get their original fourth-rounder back from the Eagles, and immediately put it to good use addressing one of their biggest needs. With Kaden Elliss departing in free agency, Atlanta has a hole at both linebacker and pass rusher. Thankfully, there’s a potential Elliss replacement in this draft class, and his name is Jaishawn Barham. Barham played two seasons at off-ball linebacker before switching to a stand-up edge rusher role at Michigan in 2025, and the results were impressive.
At 6’3.5, 240, Barham has the size to survive on the edge. He’s been an outstanding run defender owing to his time playing linebacker, and is a much better edge-setter than you’d expect given his lower weight. He’s a natural pass rusher, with incredible agility for his size and very good athleticism (8.79 RAS). Barham isn’t necessarily the most explosive, but he’s a fantastic bender. Obviously, he’s raw as a rusher with few moves in his toolkit, but he offers a lot more versatility in coverage and off-ball. The Falcons could play him in the Kaden Elliss role as a hybrid linebacker/edge, or potentially convert him to edge full time. He’s also a logical backup for Jalon Walker who could fill a similar role in the rotation. Barham may not be an instant-impact addition, but for a patient staff who can actually develop pass rushers (nice to have you, Nate Ollie!), he could be a big hit early on Day 3.
Round 4, Pick 122: DT Chris McClellan, Missouri
I’m still not sure if the Falcons actually want a nose tackle or not, but I know that I want a nose tackle. The middle of the defensive line was a weakness last season when teams committed to running power inside, and that’s too big of a problem to ignore. Atlanta has also been showing interest in several nose tackle prospects, including Missouri’s Chris McClellan. With a sudden abundance of fourth-round picks, this is a terrific opportunity to address that need.
McClellan is a big-bodied defensive lineman with outstanding length (6’4, 313, 34” arms). That gives him tremendous potential as a run-stuffing specialist, and he certainly looked the part in the SEC. McClellan is strong as a ox, as his 25 bench reps can attest (even more impressive with 34” arms), and does his best work displacing blockers in the B gap. He’s a solid athlete (5.91 RAS) and posted better-than-expected pass rush production, notching 5 sacks in 2025. For all his gifts, McClellan needs to improve technically. He plays too upright and can use his massive hands much more effectively. Because of those deficiencies, he’s very inconsistent at taking on double teams. Still, the traits are all here for a starting-caliber nose tackle, and I think McClellan could be a good value add.
Round 4, Pick 137: OT J.C. Davis, Illinois
Acquired via trade with the Eagles.
The trench investments continue as the Falcons turn their eyes to the offensive line. Jake Matthews was recently restructured again, which means he’s likely to stick around for at least another two seasons. Kaleb McGary’s future is much murkier, as he’s coming off a season-ending injury and could be released in 2027 for a massive $15M in cap savings. It would be wise for Atlanta to invest in a developmental tackle to potentially take over (or at the very least become the new swing tackle) next year, and one of my favorites is still on the board in Illinois’ J.C. Davis.
Davis is the type of lineman that Bill Callahan is likely to target: big and nasty. At 6’4, 322 and with over 34” arms, he absolutely checks all the size boxes and is still athletic enough (6.42 RAS) to execute zone concepts. Davis’ game is predicated on overwhelming power, and he excels in the run game. As a pass protector, he has obvious talent but is much more inconsistent. Davis is overaggressive, too often loses his balance, and his hand technique is sloppy. He’s got a lot of work to do before he’s a reliable NFL starter, but his floor as a quality run blocker along with his high-level traits make him a prospect I’d bet on overperforming his draft position.
Round 6, Pick 215: C Matt Gulbin, Michigan State
We’re not done in the trenches, folks. While the Falcons addressed their need for a reliable backup center behind Ryan Neuzil with veteran Corey Levin, the team still has a long-term need at the position. While it’ll be difficult to find a future starter late on Day 3, there are still compelling depth options to consider. Michigan State’s Matt Gulbin is an intriguing addition with experience at both center and guard, and could be an ideal fit for Atlanta’s needs.
Gulbin has good size (6’4, 305), but arm length limitations (32”) restrict him to an interior role. He’s a powerful blocker who can execute a variety of concepts, and looks particularly good on inside runs. Gulbin is an average athlete, which limits his appeal in wide zone, but otherwise excellent run blocking makes up for it. He’s also been a very consistent pass blocker, allowing just five total pressures in 2025 (2 sacks, 1 hit, 2 hurries). Gulbin’s issues mostly stem from his lack of length, but he’s a high-floor player who can back up both center and guard for Atlanta.
Round 7, Pick 231: WR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
While the Falcons have added options at returner in free agency (Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus), this team should continue to look for a long-term solution. With a late seventh-rounder, Atlanta has an opportunity to add one of the top return specialists in the draft without risking him as a UDFA. Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen didn’t do a whole lot offensively, but his impact on special teams was immense.
Wetjen set the Iowa record for most return touchdowns with six (!!), including four punt returns and two kickoff returns for TDs. He’s a squatty, muscled up player at 5’9, 193 and wins with outstanding field vision and agility. Wetjen is a missed tackle machine, with 8 missed tackles forced on just 22 receptions. He’s quicker than fast (4.47s 40), but he does have some explosive traits to complement his lateral mobility. Wetjen is likely a slot-only receiver at the NFL level, but I think there’s more opportunity for him as a yards-after-catch gadget/screen target on offense. When combined with his return ability, I think Wetjen could absolutely earn a roster spot in Atlanta.
What do you think about this potential draft class for the Falcons? Leave your draft takes in the comments below!
