The Falcons didn’t have much ammunition heading into this year’s draft, entering with just five total picks and none in the first round. That’s not exactly a recipe for addressing every need, but Mel Kiper Jr. came away impressed with what Matt Ryan and Ian Cunningham were able to do on Day 2 with the selections of Avieon Terrell and Zachariah Branch.
“Let’s start with Terrell — the brother of Falcons corner A.J. Terrell Jr,” Kiper writes. “What a story this is, two brothers lining up in the same NFL secondary. The younger Terrell will be a nickel in the pros, with 5-foot-11, 186-pound size. But like his brother, he’s very good in press coverage. He plays a physical brand of football despite his frame, and he can turn and run with the fastest receivers in the league. He could spell Mike Hughes, who had been penciled in as Dee Alford’s replacement over the slot.”
Terrell has the makings of a Day 1 starter at a premium position — something the Falcons desperately needed. If he reaches that ceiling, this is an A+ pick in the second round. And the storyline of two brothers starting together in the same secondary is more than just a fun wrinkle. The transition to the NFL is never easy, but having A.J. Terrell in his corner — quite literally — should ease that process early in his career.
Atlanta then turned around and grabbed Branch in the third round, another player Kiper sees as a natural fit for what they want to do offensively.
“Speaking of speed and smaller frames, Branch is lightning quick. At 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, he isn’t going to outmuscle many defenders, but with his 4.35 speed and elusiveness, he can just run past them. That explosion lends itself to yards after the catch, which will be key for Atlanta. The Falcons leaned on that last season, with 5.7 yards after the catch per reception (sixth in the NFL), and Tua Tagovailoa — who could start at least until Michael Penix Jr. is back from his ACL injury — got the ball out faster than everyone not named Aaron Rodgers last season. Toss in his return-game skills, and this is another really good Day 2 pick.”
Branch’s explosiveness gives him a high floor. At minimum, he should carve out a role on special teams and in the short passing game, which isn’t bad value for a third-rounder. But if he develops as a legitimate downfield threat, this pick could end up being a steal. The traits are there — it just wasn’t something he consistently showcased in college.
Kiper wasn’t nearly as high on Atlanta’s Day 3 haul.
“The rest of the selections left a lot to be desired, though. Atlanta didn’t take an offensive tackle until Ethan Onianwa in Round 7. Harold Perkins Jr. 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.”
Some of those picks might look like reaches on paper, but it’s clear the Falcons had a plan — betting on elite athletic traits over clean positional fits.
Kendal Daniels, their fourth-round selection, is a perfect example. He spent most of his career at safety before transitioning to linebacker. He’s not a clean projection at either spot, but at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, he brings a unique skill set that can create problems if used correctly. This feels like a move with Jeff Ulbrich’s fingerprints all over it — a defensive mind that values versatility, whether it’s rushing the passer or dropping into coverage.
Then there’s Perkins, who fits that same “positionless” mold. He burst onto the scene at LSU as a dynamic pass rusher, but lacks the prototypical size for a full-time edge and was eventually moved into a more traditional linebacker role. He’s not a perfect fit anywhere on paper, but the athleticism is undeniable, and when healthy, he was consistently one of the best players on LSU’s defense. With the right usage, he can be an impact player — something you don’t often find in the sixth round.
Kiper ultimately gave the Falcons a C+, but a lot of his criticisms — no first-round pick, limited selections — were out of this regime’s control. Terry Fontenot didn’t leave Cunningham and company with much to work with, so there’s a strong case to be made they maximized what they had.
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Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)
