Feb. 22, 2026, 6:05 a.m. ET

The Atlanta Falcons have come close to a playoff berth in recent years, but they haven’t been able to get over the hump since trading away former league MVP Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. Ryan has returned to Atlanta in a new role as the team’s president of football.

The Falcons hired head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Ian Cunningham, but the real work hasn’t even started yet. NFL free agency is just around the corner, and the 2026 NFL Draft will follow shortly after.

Since the team has no first-round pick this year, we’ve primarily focused on free agency in our offseason coverage, however, the Falcons still have five total picks and a new GM looking to make an impression.

What will Cunningham do in his first draft as Atlanta’s general manager? Will the team add more offensive weapons early, or use those picks to reinforce the defense?

Pro Football Sports Network released a new seven-round mock draft which has the Falcons holding off on a wide receiver until the fourth round. The team was projected to take Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds in Round 2 of PFSN’s mock.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Round 2, Pick 48: CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana

“D’Angelo Ponds tallied seven interceptions and 30 pass deflections over his last three seasons,” PFSN analyst Jacob Infante wrote. “He’s an undersized cornerback at 5’9″ and 170 pounds, but Ponds is a tremendous athlete with great coverage instincts and a scrappy demeanor near the line of scrimmage.”

The Falcons have a nice stable of cornerbacks, but Dee Alford is a free agent and Billy Bowman Jr. is coming off an Achilles injury. Ponds earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 89.9 last season. He excelled in zone coverage and more than held his own against the run.

In Round 3, PFSN projected the Falcons to take a developmental offensive tackle prospect with great size.

Round 3, Pick 79: OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M

“With his pad level and inconsistent processing speed, I wouldn’t consider Dametrious Crownover a Day 1 starter in the NFL,” explained Infante. “That said, he’s a 6’7″, 336-pound freak of nature with incredible length and really good agility for his size. Someone will bet on upside with him.”

The Falcons could definitely look to find their next left tackle somewhere in this year’s draft. Crownover is intriguing, but he will take some time to get there. Fortunately, Jake Matthews is still playing at a high level for Atlanta.

Round 4, Pick 114: WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State

Here in Round 4, PFSN projects Atlanta to take Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst with pick No. 114. While there is no write-up for the remaining picks, the Panthers wideout is an intriguing selection. At 6-foot-3, Hurst has good size. Plus, he’s got the production to back it up — 999 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 14.1 yards per reception last season.

Round 6, Pick 196: DT Tyler Onyedim, Texas A&M

In Round 6, Atlanta added Texas A&M’s Tyler Onyedim. The 6-foot-3, 300 pound defensive lineman is big enough to play nose tackle and could help the Falcons stuff the run. The team may lose veteran David Onyemata in free agency, so adding interior depth on defense would make sense.

Round 7, Pick 232: OL Fernando Carmona, Arkansas

Closing out PFSN’s mock draft, the Falcons added Arkansas guard Fernando Carmona in the seventh round. Depth on the interior is something that Atlanta has lost in recent seasons, especially with Ryan Neuzil stepping into a full-time center role.

The Falcons obviously have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL, and that’s why it may be time to replenish that foundation. The 2026 NFL Draft officially starts on April 23, although Atlanta will have to wait until Day 2 to make a pick.