Despite not having a first-round pick, the possibilities are endless for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2026 NFL Draft. Wide receiver, cornerback, and the offense and defensive lines are needs that Ian Cunningham could fill early in his first draft, it all depends on how the draft board shakes out before.
The Falcons could always trade down if they are not pleased with how things look at 48, especially with their lack of draft capital, but that appears unlikely. It sounds like 2027 is when Atlanta is looking to make waves with their resources, while 2026 is a bit of a transitionary year for this new regime.
In ESPN's Matt Miller's latest seven-round mock draft, he has the Dirty Birds adopting this exact strategy and catering to what the draft board offers them. Instead of grabbing headlines, they quietly fill all of their needs, which starts with their two biggest holes on the roster with their first two picks.
The Atlanta Falcons do not have to be bold to come away with a successful 2026 draft class
Miller's mock has Atlanta starting off the chaos with the selection of Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller at 48, which has become a popular pairing in recent weeks. There's a real shot that Miller isn't even available, so if he is, Cunningham needs to run that pick up to the podium himself.
Miller would be the perfect 1-technique DT for the Falcons and help fix their struggles against the run. The only defensive tackles under contract beyond 2026 are Brandon Dorlus and Ruke Orhorhoro, so why not keep a Georgia native in-state to fill arguably your biggest team need?
In the third round, Miller has the Falcons drafting Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks at pick 79. Like Miller noted, Atlanta needs a long-term slot receiver with speed to complement Drake London and Jahan Dotson, and I can't think of anyone better than the man who ran a 4.3 flat in the 40-yard dash.
He has the ability to make you miss, and for an offense that needs to get more explosive, Burks' speed will make an instant impact. Olamide Zaccheus is only a short-term fix, so if London, Dotson, and Burks are the long-term receiver trio of the future in Atlanta, the Falcons are much better off.
From there, Miller had Atlanta addressing the secondary with Texas A&M's Will Lee III in Round 4, the offensive line with Miami's Markel Bell in Round 6, and land a potential long-term backup to Kyle Pitts at tight end in Round 7 in Utah's Dallen Bentley, all of which are needs that also need to be looked at.
It's not flashy, but the Falcons filling their three biggest needs with their first three picks is a masterstroke. Miller and Burks would be a fantastic start to this new era, so even though it may not be flashy, there is nothing to complain about should this situation come to fruition in Atlanta.