The Atlanta Falcons have been in serious need of production behind Drake London and Jahan Dotson. Josh Downs, Calvin Ridley, and Brian Thomas Jr. were all mentioned as possible trade targets but the Falcons ultimately decided to hold off on adding another pass-catcher.
This means Branch, Atlanta’s third -round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, could play a bigger role for the second half of the season.
Branch has been incredibly quiet offensively in the first half of the season but with no new veteran addition, Atlanta can use the opportunity to see just what they have in Branch.
Especially considering the lack of production from several of their receivers, this is a show of faith in him to take on a larger role.
The Atlanta Falcons did not trade for a WR before the trade deadline
There were multiple wide receiver targets the Falcons were linked to before their trade deadline on November 10. Which makes sense.
Drake London has remained their clear number one option in the passing game while Jahan Dotson has provided another veteran presence. But they have struggled for consistent production from their other receivers.
Branch has also seen very little action. In his first eight games Branch has only caught 10 passes for 64 yards. He has also only seen around 20.9% of the offensive snaps. Frankly, it's a bit alarming he's been this much of a non-factor in a wide receiver room this weak and desperate for contributors.
While these aren’t great stats, they don’t really tell the whole story. Branch simply hasn’t had enough opportunities to show what he can do as a true receiver. Branch has however shown value on special teams. His speed makes him an interesting return man.
However, if they had brought in another established receiver, then the 22-year-old would have struggled even more to earn any meaningful playing time. He would've been buried even further on the depth chart.
The Falcons have decided to keep their current group of receivers. This doesn’t mean Branch will take on a bigger role, they could still look to their veterans. But Branch will have to earn this. However, it does make things easier for him to carve out a larger role.
Zachariah Branch could get a bigger role for the Falcons down the stretch
The Atlanta Falcons also have an interesting situation with Olamide Zaccheaus. Zachariah Branch has already passed Zaccheaus in terms of receiving yards even though he has seen less offensive snaps.
Even further, the Falcons are currently 3-6 so you could argue they should look to develop their youth. The front office have already made tough decisions. They traded Jessie Bates III (Starting Safety) to Jacksonville and Ryan Neuzil (Center) to Baltimore.
This shows they are thinking about the future. Branch should play a part in this. The Falcons will ultimately have to decide whether they need to invest further in their receivers for 2027. By giving Branch more playing time in the last few games it will help them make this decision.
Of course, Zachariah Branch could fail to be a consistent NFL receiver. His less refined route tree and his smaller frame are real issues. But his early performances have not answered many questions. Either way, it’s time to see what the kid can do once he returns from his hamstring injury.
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