Falcons 2026 day 3 draft discussion: Today should bring Atlanta developmental depth

The team drafted a blend of best player available and need

Avieon Terrell was anywhere from CB2 to CB8 for many analysts, settling in around CB3 and 21st overall among all prospects per Arif Hasan’s invaluable consensus big board. He ended up going later than that—Mansoor Delane, Chris Johnson, Colton Hood, and Treydan Stukes (announced as a safety) went ahead of him—and I think he had a credible case for best non-Jermod McCoy corner on the board. McCoy, of course, has plummeted due to what have to be concerns with his medicals. The Falcons had a lot of trouble with CB2 opposite A.J. Terrell last year, can use the inside-outside versatility Avieon brings to the table, and now have two really good cover corners atop the depth chart. It’s an understandable move, and one that fit with both team needs and the strength of the prospect. Zachariah Branch, meanwhile, was frequently linked to Atlanta and also fills a need. You have Olamide Zaccheaus on a one-year deal to work out of the slot, but he’s best as a savvy and speedy reserve who can fill in at multiple spots; Branch can flat out fly, does tremendous work after the catch, and was particularly lethal on the screens that Kevin Stefanski deployed in to (mostly) great effect. Branch was ranked between the 10th-15th best receiver by many analysts, landed at 64th on Hasan’s big board and was the 12th one selected; you may have preferred Chris Bell or Ted Hurst, but the Falcons had a need for an explosive playmaker and young receiver and Branch clearly fits a role the team wanted to square away. The upshot here is that you can certainly see both players being the best available on the board *for Atlanta’s* *specific needs* and also among the best players available generally. For me, at least, it’s difficult to argue they should have pivoted to other positions, even if I did have players I liked a great deal at those spots.