The Atlanta Falcons graded out well for the most part for their selections in the 2026 NFL Draft.
One of the most notable developments is that the Falcons dispelled the longstanding narrative that the team does not invest enough in Georgia talent. Now, they have more former Bulldogs in the fold than any other NFL team does.
That includes former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch, whom the Falcons selected at No. 79 overall in the third round. There is a lot to like about the wideout’s game, but not everyone is sold on how valuable of an addition he will be in Atlanta.
That includes analyst Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports.
CBS Names Most Surprising Falcons 2026 NFL Draft Pick
Wilson may have given the Falcons an ‘A-‘ grade for their work in the most recent NFL Draft, and did rank them 14th overall in the league for how they made out in the event.
But, Wilson is a bit surprised by the team’s decision to take Branch off the board. He likes Branch overall as a prospect, but also has a lot of concerns about how he will fare at the next level.
“There’s no denying that Zachariah Branch has game-changing talent,” Wilson wrote. “My issue is that he’s 5-foot-8, didn’t run a lot of routes at Georgia, and he’s a body catcher, which effectively makes his already-small catch radius even smaller… get him the ball and let him do the rest, and in an offense with Penix Jr. and/or Tagovailoa under center, Branch makes a lot of sense.”
GettyZachariah Branch of the Georgia Bulldogs.
On the flip side, former Oklahoma linebacker Kendal Daniels was his favorite Falcons pick.
“I’ve been talking up Kendal Daniels for months,” Wilson wrote. “I describe him as a versatile hybrid defender and elite open-field tackler who impacts the game from the slot, the box, and the edge.”
He named cornerback Avieon Terrell as the best value pick the Falcons made, noting how close he came to being a first-round selection.
“(He) would have been a first-rounder had he not run in the 4.6s at his pre-draft workout. Perhaps we’ve overthought it once again, in much the same way we all did with Kamari Lassister and Brian Branch,” Wilson wrote. “But Terrell was one of the few Clemson players who didn’t have a bad 2025 season.”
What Zachariah Branch Brings To The Table For The Falcons
Wilson has his own opinion on Branch, but not everyone shares that. Jason Kendal of Fansided listed him as one of the better picks of the event.
“Branch was one of the best value picks of the entire night, as I’m sure the Falcons seriously considered drafting him with the 48th overall pick,” he wrote. “But the best part about drafting him is that it forced one of Atlanta’s NFC South rivals to select a consolation prize at receiver.”
Over his college career spent with USC and Georgia, Branch finished out with 1,634 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns on 159 receptions.
CBS Reveals Most Surprising 2026 NFL Draft Pick Made By Falcons