CBS Sports gives Falcons brutal grade for drafting LB Kendal Daniels

Yahoo Sports3h ago23 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

CBS Sports criticized the Atlanta Falcons for their fourth-round draft pick of LB Kendal Daniels, assigning a 'D' grade. Despite his fit in the team's defensive scheme, the selection disappointed some analysts.

Key points

CBS Sports gave the Falcons a 'D' grade for drafting Kendal Daniels.
Kendal Daniels is a linebacker from Oklahoma.
Ian Cunningham is the Falcons' general manager.
Daniels is expected to play a role in special teams.
The pick disappointed some analysts despite his potential.

Mentioned in this story

Ian Cunningham

Atlanta FalconsKendal DanielsKaden Elliss

CBS Sports gives Falcons brutal grade for drafting LB Kendal Daniels

After Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, it looked like Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham could do no wrong, but the media's honeymoon phase ended with the team's fourth-round selection of Oklahoma linebacker Kendal Daniels.

The safety-turned-linebacker is an ideal fit in Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich's scheme and should have a special teams role at the very least in 2026. Daniels' versatility will come in handy as Atlanta attempts to replace linebacker Kaden Elliss.

However, not everyone was on board. CBS Sports' Carter Bahns had to lower Atlanta's overall draft grade following the Kendal Daniels pick, giving the selection a "D" grade.

Falcons receive D grade for Kendal Daniels pick

"Things went a little sideways for the Falcons in Round 4, when their grade dipped from an A+ to a B+ with one pick," wrote Bahns. "The Kendal Daniels selection is a tricky one because Edwards described him as "a player without a position" and suggested he may have to start his career on special teams."

That pick lowered the Falcons' draft grade from an A+ to a B+ after taking Daniels, which feels a bit harsh. However, it's all comes down to how Atlanta utilizes the former Oklahoma standout.

The 2026 NFL Draft is not over yet, though. Check out Atlanta's remaining picks on Day 3 below.

Falcons 2026 NFL Draft picks: Day 3

The Falcons still have three picks left, with two coming up in the sixth round (picks 208 and 215) and one in the seventh round (pick No. 231 overall), as you can see below.

Round 4, Pick 134: LB Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma
Round 6, Pick 208 (from Raiders)

Q&A

Why did CBS Sports give the Falcons a 'D' grade for drafting Kendal Daniels?

CBS Sports lowered the Falcons' overall draft grade due to concerns about the selection of Kendal Daniels, despite his potential fit in the team's defensive scheme.

What position does Kendal Daniels play for the Falcons?

Kendal Daniels is a linebacker who transitioned from safety, expected to contribute to the Falcons' defense and special teams.

Who is the Falcons' general manager responsible for the Kendal Daniels pick?

The Falcons' general manager responsible for drafting Kendal Daniels is Ian Cunningham.

How does Kendal Daniels fit into the Falcons' defensive scheme?

Kendal Daniels is considered an ideal fit for the Falcons' defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich's scheme, bringing versatility to the linebacker position.