The Atlanta Falcons are set to have a quiet opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Atlanta will not have a first-round selection after a 2025 trade with the Los Angeles Rams it now regrets. The Falcons acquired the 26th pick in the 2025 draft in exchange for their 2026 first-rounder, which ended up landing 13th overall as Atlanta missed the playoffs and fired coach Raheem Morris.
That wasn't all, though, so here's the full trade:
Atlanta received: 2025 first-round pick (No. 26 -- OLB James Pearce Jr.), 2025 third-round pick (No. 101 -- traded to Broncos, who selected DE Sai'vion Jones)
Los Angeles received: 2026 first-round pick (No. 13), 2025 second-round pick (No. 46 -- TE Terrance Ferguson), 2025 seventh-round pick (No. 242 -- WR Konata Mumpfield)
Pearce had a productive rookie season in Atlanta, registering 10.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and five pass deflections. But the Tennessee alum's career is now in peril after he was arrested and charged with multiple felonies in February following an alleged domestic violence incident involving Los Angeles Sparks star Rickea Jackson, his ex-girlfriend.
It's unclear whether Pearce will play in 2026. He's currently set to face trial on May 4.
Ferguson and Mumpfield both had quiet rookie seasons, but the real prize is that No. 13 pick this year. It's not often a team on the precipice of a Super Bowl can bolster their roster with a top-15 pick, yet here the Rams are.
As for Atlanta, the cupboard is somewhat bare for first-year coach Kevin Stefanski.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why don't Falcons have first-round pick in 2026 NFL Draft?
