The Atlanta Falcons concluded their 2026 NFL Draft with six selections, making picks in every round except the first and fifth. They added cornerback Avieon Terrell, wide receiver Zachariah Branch, linebacker Kendal Daniels, defensive tackle Anterio Thompson, linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. guard Ethan Onianwa.
The question now for the Falcons is whether they believe they got better ahead of the 2026 season, one that will be under a new regime led by general manager Ian Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Every pick is sure to receive its own unique judgment. However, one player ESPN’s Field Yates is particularly excited about for Atlanta is LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr.
Falcons Praised For Landing Harold Perkins Jr.
Perkins was projected by many to go much earlier than the sixth round at No. 215 overall. But that slide came for a few reasons, one being the uncertainty surrounding his best NFL position.
“The hardest question to answer about Perkins throughout the predraft process was whether he would play off-ball linebacker or edge rusher in the NFL. Either way, this is strong value for Atlanta this late in the sixth round.
“Perkins played all over for LSU during his college career, showcasing electric speed and open-field movement skills. He has some pass rush and coverage ability that will travel to the NFL. At the very least, he can be a factor on special teams.”
Of his 749 snaps last season with the Tigers, 366 came as a box linebacker. His second-highest total, 250 snaps, came at slot corner, according to Pro Football Focus.
Across 43 career games, Perkins recorded 220 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, five interceptions, 10 pass breakups and eight forced fumbles.
He never matched the 7.5 sacks he posted as a freshman, but he did register a career-best three interceptions in 2025. That came one year after tearing his ACL and missing eight games.
Where Will Harold Perkins Jr. Play For The Falcons?
Perkins may offer upside, but he did not directly address one of Atlanta’s biggest roster concerns, according to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi.
In his post-draft analysis, Raimondi questioned whether either the offensive or defensive line truly improved.
“The Falcons should be happy with their draft haul — they got potential starters in cornerback Avieon Terrell and wide receiver Zachariah Branch, as well as high-upside picks across the board — but they did not necessarily acquire impact players on either line,” Raimondi wrote.
“Stopping the run was a concern for the Atlanta defense last season, and the Falcons didn’t pick up a defensive tackle in the draft until the sixth round in Anterio Thompson.”
As for run defense, Perkins earned a 69.0 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 504th out of 809 linebackers.
“We’re working through (where he will play),” Stefanski said. “He’s got some versatility along the front, but we’re also excited about the special teams component.”
It remains difficult to project exactly where Perkins fits on the Falcons depth chart. The Athletic’s Josh Kendall currently has him as a backup behind Divine Deablo, JD Bertrand and fourth-round pick Kendal Daniels.
“Perkins made his name as an edge rusher at LSU, but the 6-1, 220-pounder is probably too small for anything other than spot duty on the outside in the NFL,” Kendall wrote.
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