ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. grades Falcons' 2026 NFL Draft class

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. grades Falcons' 2026 NFL Draft class

The 2026 NFL Draft went the way scouts anticipated for about the first five picks before turning into pure chaos. The Atlanta Falcons had to wait until Day 2 to make their first pick, taking Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell at No. 48 overall.

Overall, the Falcons left the draft with six new players, including fan-favorite Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch. Scouts praised the team's first few selections under first-year general manager Ian Cunningham, but not everyone liked Atlanta's overall draft haul.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper released his official draft grades for all 32 teams. While Kiper was initially impressed with Falcons' picks on Day 2, he gave the team a "C+" grade overall.

"It's tough to tackle needs with just five non-first-rounders at your disposal, but the new Falcons braintrust of GM Ian Cunningham, coach Kevin Stefanski and president of football Matt Ryan did its best," wrote Kiper. "And I think the Falcons left Day 2 with two really, really good players. Both Avieon Terrell and Zachariah Branch spent time in my top 25 during the season, and they were both on my favorite players in the class list."

So why did Kiper give the Falcons a "C+" for his final draft grade? For one, he lowered the grade due to the team's lack of a first-round pick. Secondly, he was not impressed by Atlanta's Day 3 selections.

"The rest of the selections left a lot to be desired, though," added Kiper. "Atlanta didn't take an offensive tackle until Ethan Onianwa in Round 7. has a chance to make an impact, but coach Kevin Stefanski needs to figure out his real position. No first-rounder and only a handful of selections hurt the Falcons, but their Day 3 haul wasn't very impressive."