Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It's officially draft month, and while the Falcons may be waiting a little longer than usual to make their first selection, the excitement is building nonetheless.
Atlanta was highly active during the first free agency period under general manager Ian Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski, and the draft provides them another crucial opportunity to strengthen their roster. The Falcons currently have five picks to work with, but Cunningham has made it clear he'd like to have more swings at the plate if they can acquire more selections.
For this exercise, however, I will be sticking to the five picks Atlanta has at the start of April. More specifically, the rounds in which those picks fall. Keep in mind that I'm not a professional scout, and the round projections were made through a combination of publicly available scouting reports and limited film review.
The Falcons added a pair of veteran linebackers in Channing Tindall and Christian Harris during free agency, and Divine Deablo will be back after a good first season in Atlanta. But the loss of Kaden Elliss in free agency will present a challenge for the defensive staff and could lead the Falcons to draft another player at the position.
Here are some candidates who could make sense for Atlanta in each round they have a pick.
SECOND ROUND
Anthony Hill Jr. – Texas
Hill is a 6-foot-2, 238-pound missile with modern-day athleticism to be a three-down impact player in the NFL. He is quick to react and even faster once he gets moving, especially downhill. His eight career forced fumbles will appeal to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who could find all sorts of ways to use Hill. Only problem is that he could be well off the board before pick No. 48.
Jake Golday - Cincinnati
Golday checks a lot of boxes and is an explosive player in the middle of a defense. In two seasons at Cincinnati, Golday had 163 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks, 5 pass defenses and 3 forced fumbles. He can be deployed effectively as a blitzer, a zone coverage defender or a downhill thumper.
Jacob Rodriguez – Texas Tech
One of the stars of the 2025 college football season, Rodriguez was a central force on what many consider the best FBS defense last year. He led the country with seven forced fumbles last season and gobbles up tackles like a Hungry Hungry Hippo. Like some of the best inside linebackers, Rodriguez is a multiplying force whose leadership skills have been highly touted. Notably, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Rodriguez to Carson Schwesinger, whom Kevin Stefanski's Cleveland Browns took in the second round last year.
Josiah Trotter – Missouri
The son of Philadelphia Eagles legend Jeremiah Trotter Sr., Trotter is a crafty player who could immediately improve a team's run defense. He's slippery when engaging blockers and flexible enough to reduce his surface area while maintaining a good angle to the ball carrier. When he decides to run through a blocker, though, Trotter arrives violently and can put a lineman on his back.
THIRD ROUND
Deontae Lawson – Alabama
A two-time team captain for the Crimson Tide, Lawson made some big plays for Alabama's defense as a redshirt senior last season. The 6-foot-3, 226-pound linebacker covers a lot of ground and bursts through the gap to make plays in the backfield against ballcarriers.
FOURTH ROUND
Jaishawn Barham – Michigan
Barham is classified as an edge defender on a lot of the draft sites, which makes sense because that's where he played most of the time last season, and he finished with four sacks. However, for the first three seasons of his college career, he was an off-ball linebacker with a quick downhill trigger and knack for getting past blocks. The Falcons valued Kaden Elliss for his unique combination of traits. The same can be said of Jalon Walker. Barham is still raw in some areas, but we've seen this recipe work before.
Kaleb Elarms-Orr – TCU
Like many of the other players I've mentioned, athleticism is a strength for Elarms-Orr. He can reach the ball carrier as a backside pursuit player or explode into the backfield before a blocker can effectively counter. Elarms-Orr is a player who stands to benefit from NFL coaching, which should help him maximize his physical traits by refining his on-field instincts.
SIXTH ROUND
Justin Jefferson – Alabama
By the time we reach the last rounds of the draft, it becomes increasingly difficult to peg exactly where players will go, and Jefferson is a player who illustrates why. He's a shifty player who always seems to be a step ahead of others and shows potential in coverage, but he's on the smaller side by NFL standards at 6 feet and 223 pounds. He could become an immediate starter on special teams for some clubs.
Jimmy Rolder – Michigan
Size isn't a concern with the 6-foot-2, 238-pound Rolder, and he plays with excellent leverage for someone with those measurables. He's got a good nose for the football and maneuvers around oncoming blockers efficiently. Rolder did not become a full-time contributor until his senior season, so his production is lagging compared to others. Still, his best football could be ahead of him.
SEVENTH ROUND
Red Murdock – Buffalo
Murdock had more than 140 tackles for Buffalo in each of the past two seasons, but the real number that jumps out is his 17 forced fumbles — the all-time FBS career record. That speaks to a high degree of attention to detail, tenacity and playmaking ability, which are all valuable traits on Day 3.
Owen Heinecke – Oklahoma
Heinicke had only 11 career tackles prior to the 2025 season, but he made a name for himself last year at Oklahoma with 74 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 4 pass defenses and 3 sacks. A former lacrosse player, he closes ground rapidly and changes direction smoothly. He's raw and has a lighter frame, but Heinicke has the kind of grit and athleticism to be a special teams mainstay.
Lander Barton - Utah
Being 6-foot-5 with a wingspan that ranks in the 92nd percentile of NFL Combine participants is a great starting point for Barton. That allows him to be disruptive in coverage, and he collected five interceptions at Utah. Barton comes from an NFL family and is versatile enough to play multiple linebacker spots.
