The 2025 season hasn’t exactly gone as planned for the Atlanta Falcons. With their Week 13 loss to the New York Jets, Atlanta is now sitting at 4-8. That normally would mean they’d be positioned for a top draft pick if the losses continue to pile up. However, that won’t be the case in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Falcons went aggressive in the 2024 draft — not only selecting Georgia’s Jalon Walker at No. 15 overall, but also trading up with the Los Angeles Rams to grab Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. The move was designed to give Atlanta’s long-struggling pass rush a much-needed jolt.
So far, the mission has been accomplished. Walker and Pearce lead all rookies with five sacks each, and the Falcons rank third in the NFL with 41 total sacks. But while the defense has improved, the team as a whole hasn’t. In fact, they may finish worse than last year’s 8-9 campaign.
So instead of Falcons fans enjoying draft season as usual, they’ll have to wait until Day 2 in April as the Rams prepare to use what would have been Atlanta’s likely top-10 pick. Still, that doesn’t mean the Falcons can’t come out swinging with their first selection in Round 2.
Falcons Predicted to Return to Offense With 2026 First Pick
For four straight drafts, the Falcons opened with offensive players before breaking the trend with Walker in 2025. But The Athletic’s Dane Brugler projects Atlanta will go back to offense in 2026, predicting the Falcons will select Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard.
“Atlanta could use another pass-catching weapon to help take heat off Drake London,” Brugler wrote. “Because of his versatility across the formation and competitive mentality, Bernard will be a favorite among scouts and coaches.”
Bernard leads the Crimson Tide in receiving this season and has become a trusted target for first-year starter Ty Simpson. He ranks 15th in the SEC with 700 yards and tied for seventh with six touchdowns. For his career, starting at Michigan State and then Washington previously, he’s tallied 2,041 yards and 12 touchdowns.
If it happens, it wouldn’t be the first time the Falcons drafted an Alabama receiver. Julio Jones — arguably the greatest receiver in franchise history — went No. 6 overall in 2011, while Calvin Ridley was selected 26th in 2018.
Falcons fans would hope for a result of the former.
Will Falcons’ Decision on Kyle Pitts Influence First Pick?
Brugler notes that Atlanta’s decision on whether to re-sign Kyle Pitts could impact what they do with their first draft pick. Pitts is in the final year of his rookie deal and still hasn’t delivered the production expected from a former No. 4 overall selection.
Pitts has just 11 career touchdowns and only one this season. His 541 receiving yards currently rank third on the team. While he has shown flashes, his long-term future in Atlanta remains a legitimate question.
The Falcons already face several major contract decisions. They must determine how to handle Kirk Cousins’ situation, especially knowing Michael Penix Jr. could miss the early part of 2026 after suffering another ACL tear. They also have long-term calls to make on Drake London and Bijan Robinson — the offensive core of the franchise.
According to Spotrac, Pitts’ projected market value sits at four years, $45.3 million, averaging $11.3 million per season.
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