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. 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."
The Falcons may not have taken any notable names on Day 3, but this wasn't considered a strong draft class. Plus, the team was clearly looking to add versatile, athletic prospects who can play multiple positions. So while Kiper may view the lack of position clarity as a problem, the Falcons know what kind of prospects fit Jeff Ulbrich's defense.
Ultimately, time will tell how this draft class pans out, but at first glance, Cunningham did pretty well considering the circumstances.
USA TODAY Sports IMAGESUSA TODAY IMAGESUSA TODAY Sports ImagesUSA TODAY Sports ImagesUSA TODAY Sports ImagesUSA TODAY Sports Images1 / 6Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft classUSA TODAY Sports IMAGES1 / 6Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft classUSA TODAY Sports IMAGES2 / 6Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft classUSA TODAY IMAGES3 / 6Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft classUSA TODAY Sports Images4 / 6Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft classUSA TODAY Sports Images5 / 6Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft classUSA TODAY Sports Images6 / 6Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft classUSA TODAY Sports ImagesThis article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: ESPN grades Atlanta Falcons draft class after Day 3