Needs aplenty as the Falcons head into the NFL Draft

The hype surrounding this year’s NFL Draft hasn’t been as grand as in years past, largely because the Falcons don’t own a first-round pick and have just five selections in total.

Still, this marks our first real look at the new regime on the most important weekend of the calendar when it comes to roster construction. Building a sustainable winner starts with the draft, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see some fireworks from Atlanta — even if they look different from what we saw under Terry Fontenot and company.

The previous regime never placed much value on moving back. They operated almost exclusively in the opposite direction, trading up — and more often than not, for the wrong guy.

The most notable example is James Pearce Jr. On the field, he delivered impressive production as a rookie, but he had already been removed from several draft boards due to off-the-field concerns. Those concerns have since come to light in a major way following his arrest for domestic violence and resisting arrest this offseason.

New general manager Ian Cunningham operates differently. He’s made it clear he wants volume — as many picks as possible — even stating this will be the last time the Falcons go into a draft with just five selections.

If his history is any indication, he’ll be aggressive in making that happen. When Cunningham and Ryan Poles took over the Bears, they entered the draft without first- or fourth-round picks. They still walked away with eleven selections, largely by flipping three Day 3 picks into eight.

At the same time, the guiding philosophy across the league remains the same: best player available. Most front offices stick to taking the most talented player on the board regardless of position, and straying too far from that approach usually leads to mistakes.

There are always exceptions. The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t drafting a quarterback with Patrick Mahomes in his prime, and the Falcons likely aren’t targeting a running back with Bijan Robinson already in place.

But in Cunningham’s first draft, those kinds of dilemmas are minimal. The reality is simple — there aren’t many areas on this roster that couldn’t use an upgrade.

Falcons Offense

As I just mentioned, the Falcons don’t need to be taking a running back early in the draft. Bijan Robinson is the best at his position, and they signed Brian Robinson Jr. this offseason to replace Tyler Allgeier. But there’s no other position that should be overlooked, including quarterback.

This new regime had nothing to do with Michael Penix Jr. It’s possible he never even makes another start for the team, and I don’t imagine Atlanta thinks they’ve found a long-term answer at the position with Tua Tagovailoa. Given the Falcons don’t have a first-round pick, it’s probably a next year problem, but if they fall in love with a prospect later in the draft, they shouldn’t hesitate in selecting a signal caller.

The offensive line is also littered with issues. Outside of Chris Lindstrom and Jake Matthews, everybody could be replaced, with right tackle really becoming a point of emphasis following the retirement of Kaleb McGary.

The same could be said for the pass catchers. The future of Kyle Pitts remains up in the air after the team franchise tagged him this offseason, and the wide receiver room is extraordinarily uninspiring outside of Drake London. Both are significant areas of need entering the NFL Draft.

Falcons Defense

Atlanta’s resurgent pass rush was the story of the 2025 campaign, setting a franchise record with 57 sacks, which was the second-most in the league behind only the Broncos. However, a team can never have enough pass rushers, and with James Pearce Jr.’s future in flux, it’s once again an area of need.

The interior defensive line also needs a complete overhaul with David Onyemata now in New York. For as good as the Falcons were against the pass, they were brutal at defending the run, which is not a staple of any top defense.

The second level is in a similar spot. Kaden Elliss, the leader of the Falcons defense, has gone back to New Orleans, and while Divine Deablo was a breath of fresh air in his first season with the team, he’s only under contract for one more season.

Then there’s the secondary. A.J. Terrell and Xavier Watts are solid foundational pieces, but the Falcons need to add multiple starting level cornerbacks, and eventually, they have to start preparing for life after Jessie Bates III, who is entering the final year of his contract.

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No general manager wants to look at a roster and think, “We need everything.” But in a strange way, it does simplify things. This weekend should be about one thing: adding as much talent as possible — players who fit the culture — and letting the rest sort itself out.

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