Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft Needs, Picks & Depth Chart

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No matter how well they did in free agency, all 32 NFL teams head into the 2026 NFL Draft with holes to fill on the roster.

Leading into the draft, we will identify the top needs for every team and break down the depth chart position by position.

What are the Falcons' top positions of need heading into the 2026 NFL draft?

Atlanta Falcons Needs: Top Positions of Need in 2026

1. Edge Rusher
2. Offensive Line
3. Wide Receiver

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Atlanta Falcons 2026 Draft Capital

The Falcons have the 31st-most draft capital according to our Sharp Football Draft Value.

Our Sharp Football Draft Value is a valuation of draft capital based on a combination of average performance delivered and average dollars earned on second contracts.

Atlanta Falcons Mock Draft Predictions

Find out who our top-rated experts expect the Falcons to draft:

• Brendan Donahue's 2026 NFL Mock Draft – Complete first round breakdown from the #2 most accurate mock drafter over the last five seasons.
• Ryan McCrystal's 2026 NFL Mock Draft – Complete first round breakdown from the #20 most accurate mock drafter over the last five seasons.

Atlanta Falcons Offense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs

Rich Hribar breaks down the offensive depth chart by position for the Atlanta Falcons, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

Quarterback

1. Tua Tagovailoa
2. Michael Penix
3. Trevor Siemian

Michael Penix suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Week 11.

Having his surgery on November 25, he will be right at nine months into his recovery at the start of the season.

If there is a minor positive to pull away from his injury, it was not the right knee, which has required two surgeries.

With Penix’s timeline running up against the start of the season, a new system with Kevin Stefanski coming in, and potentially missing a lot of practice time, the Falcons added Tua Tagovailoa this summer.

He could be a potential bridge to Penix’s return or even the outright starter should he play well enough, assuming he is the frontrunner to open the year under center.

With Miami eating Tua’s contract, Atlanta was able to sign Tagovailoa to a veteran minimum deal ($1.2 million).

Penix was a mixed bag in year two when he was on the field.

He completed 60.1% of his passes (30th) for 7.2 yards per pass attempt (15th), a 3.3% touchdown rate (30th), and a league-low 1.1% interception rate.

Given his release, Tagovailoa inherently ended his Miami career on a down note.

He threw for 6.9 yards per pass attempt (22nd), a 3.9% interception rate (32nd), and had a 7.2% sack rate (23rd).

On the positive end, he did have a 5.2% touchdown rate (11th) and completed 67.7% of his passes (8th).

Interestingly, aside from both being left-handed, these are polar-opposite passers.

Penix has preferred to push the ball downfield and outside the numbers, while Tagovailoa has gotten the ball out quickly and near the line of scrimmage.

Over the past two years, Penix has averaged 8.9 air yards per pass attempt (2nd in the league) and has thrown the ball a league-high 49.4% of the time outside the numbers.

Over that span, Tagovailoa has averaged a league-low 6.2 air yards per pass attempt while throwing the ball 38.8% of the time outside of the numbers (26th).

The results have not been there when either has pushed the ball downfield.

On throws 20 or more yards downfield over the past two seasons, Tua has completed 32.8% of his throws (34th) while Penix has completed 29.6% (41st).

Tagovailoa’s ability to play on time could be a positive for Stefanski’s scheme, but his shortcomings when holding the football have led to more mistakes.

I would bet on both quarterbacks starting in 2026, with the Falcons reassessing the position after this year's results.

Running Back

1. Bijan Robinson
2. Brian Robinson
3. Tyler Goodson
4. Nathan Carter
5. Carlos Washington

Bijan Robinson was sensational in his third season, racking up a league-high 2,298 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns on 366 touches.

Since being drafted in 2023, Robinson leads all running backs in total yards (5,648) and touches (1,003) while sharing a backfield with Tyler Allgeier.

Robinson had plenty of touches, but that was only 68.8% of the backfield opportunities in 2025, which was 10th in the league.

There could even be more here, but the Falcons did add Brian Robinson as insurance and a complement after he backed up another high-volume back in Christian McCaffrey last season.

Bijan (who just turned 24 in January) enters the year in the final season of his rookie contract.

The Falcons are a strong bet to pick up Robinson’s fifth-year option (which is $11.3 million) before the deadline as the two sides attempt to work out a potential long-term deal sooner rather than later.

Wide Receiver

1. Drake London
2. Jahan Dotson
3. Olamide Zaccheaus
4. Casey Washington
5. Deven Thompkins
6. Dylan Dummond
7. Chris Blair

Drake London was on his way to another stellar season in 2025 before a PCL injury in Week 11 derailed him and limited him to 12 games played.

On a per-game basis, London averaged 5.7 receptions (WR8) for 76.6 yards (WR7) with 7 touchdowns (still tied for 11th for the year).

London was targeted on 28.7% of his routes (WR6), with 32.1% of the Atlanta targets and 41.9% of the air yards when he was on the field.

London is playing this season on his fifth-year option, setting the table for a huge incoming extension.

His production is surely going to get him paid among the league’s highest receivers. The only question is the timing of the deal.

As noted, the Falcons also have Bijan Robinson, who is among the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, ready to be paid, so paying both at the same time is a potential hurdle.

Atlanta should, however, be incentivized to pay that contract out because they don’t have much here outside of London.

The team made low-leverage additions this offseason with Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus.

Dotson had only 19 and 18 receptions over the past two seasons.

Still, Atlanta is hoping to find something here on the cheap, as he is a former first-round pick who was buried behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in Philadelphia.

Zaccheaus is a seven-year slot receiver who has never had more than 45 receptions in a season.

He caught 39 passes for 313 yards and 2 touchdowns last year with the Bears.

Tight End

1. Kyle Pitts
2. Austin Hooper
3. Charlie Woerner
4. Joshua Simon

Kyle Pitts had his best season since his rookie year, catching 88 of 118 targets for 928 yards and 5 touchdowns.

His end-of-year production, with Drake London (and Michael Penix) injured, carried him to a strong finish.

Over the final seven games of the year, Pitts was second to only Trey McBride in receptions (41) and yards (494) among tight ends, and he was also second in touchdowns (4).

Over the opening 10 games, Pitts averaged 4.7 catches for 43.4 yards per game with 1 touchdown.

On 357 routes with London on the field, Pitts was targeted on 18.5% of his routes with 1.29 yards per route.

On 182 routes with London off the field, Pitts was targeted on 28.6% of his routes with 2.56 yards per route.

His standout performance came in Week 15, catching 11 passes for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Bucs.

That end-of-the-year run pushed Atlanta to use the franchise tag on Pitts.

The Falcons are starved for pass catchers, and the team is rumored to still want to reach a longer-term commitment with him.

As we have covered, though, they are lined up to deal out big contracts to both Bijan Robinson and London, which should take precedence.

This is not an immediate need, but no other tight end here is signed beyond 2026.

Offensive Line

LT: Jake Matthews, Jack Nelson
LG: Matthew Bergeron, Kyle Hinton
C: Ryan Neuzil, Corey Levin
RG: Chris Lindstrom, Andrew Stueber
RT: Jawaan Taylor, Storm Norton, Michael Jerrell

The Atlanta offensive line held up in 2026 despite losing Kaleb McGrary before the season.

The Falcons were 16th in pass-blocking grade and 10th in run-blocking grade, per Pro Football Focus.

They lost McGary in the preseason, but they then stayed healthy afterward.

Atlanta had their starting offensive line on the field for 80.2% of the offensive snaps, which was second in the league.

That doesn't mean there isn’t work to be done here, however.

McGary just announced his retirement, leaving a hole at right tackle.

Elijah Wilkinson played every snap at right tackle last season, and he just left the team in free agency.

In the wake of the McGary news, the team signed Jawaan Taylor to a one-year contract.

Taylor is a lesser of evils than turning to Storm Norton, who did not play in 2025 and has made four starts since 2021.

Taylor held in pass protection last year, allowing a 3.9% pressure rate (14th among tackles), with penalties and run blocking as reasons he was still on the open market for a cheap deal.

Taylor had 13 penalties, which was tied for the fourth most among tackles.

He had a league-high 19 penalties in 2024.

He was also the lowest graded tackle last year in run blocking per Pro Football Focus among 93 qualifying players.

The rest of this unit is in solid shape for the short term, but there are some more looming contracts expiring here (a consistent theme).

Jake Matthews and Chris Lindstrom are mainstays signed for multiple seasons.

But Ryan Neuzil and Matthew Bergeron are both in the final years of their contracts.

Atlanta does not have much depth here, taking only Jack Nelson in the seventh round last season as the only offensive lineman they have drafted over the past two seasons.

Atlanta Falcons Defense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs

Raymond Summerlin breaks down the defensive depth chart by position for the Atlanta Falcons, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

Defensive Line

1. Brandon Dorlus
2. Zach Harrison
3. Ruke Orhorhoro
4. Da’Shawn Hand
5. Chris Williams
6. LaCale London
7. Ben Stille
8. Elijah Garcia

The Falcons ranked 23rd in yards allowed per carry to running backs (4.5) last season and 27th in explosive run rate allowed to the position (13.6%).

That is a big concern considering their best option against the run, David Onyemata, left in free agency.

The Falcons’ top three along the defensive line are still on their rookie contracts, but no one in that group has proven to be a standout player.

Brandon Dorlus did show potential last year, his first extended run of NFL action.

He finished the season with 8.5 sacks, though his 8.9% pressure rate suggests that total was a little bit lucky.

That said, Dorlus also made plays in the backfield in the running game, and he could be primed for more in 2026.

Zach Harrison was limited to seven games last season, and he has not played more than 350 snaps in any of his three seasons in the league.

Harrison also had success as a pass rusher last year, though, getting 4.5 sacks in those seven games with a very impressive 14.8% pressure rate.

That was a big step forward for Harrison, who is headed into his contract year.

Ruke Orhorhoro led the returners in snaps following a mostly lost rookie season, but he did not show the same level of improvement.

He had an 8.2% pressure rate while struggling to make plays in the running game.

The Falcons added veteran Da’Shawn Hand to this group in free agency, who can be a solid option in the rotation.

Atlanta has youth in this group and a veteran to help solidify the rotation, but they still could look for an impact player in the draft.

Edge Defenders

1. Jalon Walker
2. Samson Ebukam
3. Azeez Ojulari
4. Cameron Thomas
5. Bralen Trice
6. DeAngelo Malone
7. James Pearce Jr.

The Falcons ranked 15th in pressure rate (37.0%) last season, but they were second in the league with 57 sacks.

Atlanta is in limbo on the edge because of the offseason allegations against James Pearce, who was not at voluntary workouts.

He led the team with 10.5 sacks and posted an impressive 13.6% pressure rate as a rookie.

They also cannot count on last year’s sack-to-pressure ratio keeping up in 2026, especially since it came attached to the second-highest blitz rate in the league.

Also a first-round pick last year, Jalon Walker did not have the same level of success as Pearce, but he did finish with 5.5 sacks and an 11.0% pressure rate.

Atlanta added Samson Ebukam, Azeez Ojulari, and Cameron Thomas to this group in free agency.

Ebukam played more of a limited role last year after missing the 2024 season with an Achilles injury, but his 10.6% pressure rate was close to his career average.

Ojulari struggled to force his way onto the field with the Eagles last season, and he then quickly suffered an injury after getting some playing time, which is the story of his career thus far.

Thomas has 6.5 sacks since being selected in the third round back in 2022.

A 2024 third-round pick, Bralen Trice has yet to play a snap in the NFL because of a lingering knee injury.

Edge rusher would still be a position of need for Atlanta even without the Pearce situation, and it is a massive, glaring hole as things stand now.

Linebacker

1. Divine Deablo
2. Christian Harris
3. JD Bertrand
4. Troy Andersen
5. Channing Tindall
6. Malik Verdon

Atlanta lost Kaden Elliss in free agency, opening a massive hole in their linebacker rotation.

Christian Harris and Channing Tindall were added in free agency, but that pair played a combined 96 snaps on defense last year.

Harris does at least have starting experience, and he showed well in coverage early in his career.

Troy Andersen has not appeared in a game since 2024 because of a lingering knee injury that has raised questions about whether he will play football again.

JD Bertrand started two games last year, but he has allowed 9.7 yards per target on limited snaps thus far in his career.

Despite playing in just 13 games, something that has been an issue throughout his career, Divine Deablo looked like a quality starter in his first season with the Falcons last year.

The spot next to him, though, remains an open question.

Deablo is also scheduled to be a free agent after the season, adding more long-term questions to the mix.

Cornerback

1. A.J. Terrell Jr.
2. Mike Hughes
3. Billy Bowman Jr.
4. Darnay Holmes
5. C.J. Henderson
6. Cobee Bryant
7. Clark Phillips III
8. Natrone Brooks
9. Mike Ford Jr.
10. A.J. Woods

Atlanta allowed 7.1 yards per attempt (20th) last season and ranked 14th in EPA allowed per pass attempt.

A.J. Terrell had a solid season, finishing 14th among qualified corners in yards allowed per coverage snap and tying for 18th in passes broken up.

Mike Hughes was limited to 12 games last year, and he took a step back in coverage even when on the field.

Billy Bowman worked as the slot corner as a rookie, but he was limited to just six games because of injuries including a season-ending Achilles tear in November.

That injury could delay his start to the season, which would open up an opportunity in the starting lineup.

Atlanta added two guys in free agency who could compete for that spot.

Darnay Holmes was signed from the Raiders, and Sydney Brown (listed below with the safeties) joined from the Eagles in a trade.

The Falcons should be able to find a stopgap option between those two.

There are no glaring holes at cornerback, but this group also does not jump off the page.

Adding a premier talent to the position certainly would not hurt.

Safety

1. Jessie Bates III
2. Xavier Watts
3. Sydney Brown
4. DeMarcco Hellams
5. Jammie Robinson
6. Tysheem Johnson

Jessie Bates was not quite as impactful from a takeaway perspective last year, but he remains one of the best safeties in the league.

A third-round pick last year, Xavier Watts started all 17 games as a rookie and finished fourth in defensive rookie of the year voting.

As mentioned above, Sydney Brown was added this offseason via trade, and he could help out in the slot in “big nickel” packages while Bowman recovers from injury.

Bates is entering his contract year as one area of concern, but safety appears to be one of Atlanta’s stronger position groups heading into the 2026 season.

2026 Depth Chart Analysis & Team Needs for All 32 NFL Teams