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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Do the Atlanta Falcons need to draft a receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft? One could debate that question until they are blue in the face.
As the offseason has taken shape, so, too, has the wide receiver room in Atlanta. Drake London remains the top dog, playing on his fifth-year option in 2026. General manager Ian Cunningham said two weeks ago at the league's annual meetings in Phoenix that the organization will revisit extension talks for London and Bijan Robinson once the draft is over. London's future, though, remains "top of mind."
"Right now we are really focused on this wave of free agency, we have the draft coming — but don't think for one second that that hasn't been thought of," Cunningham said at the end of March. "Don't think for one second that we aren't already thinking about all of these different things moving forward."
MORE POSITIONS IN THIS SERIES: Linebackers | Offensive Tackles | Defensive Tackles
Still, the position around London needed strengthening with the departure of Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge at the end of the league year last month. The Falcons got to work, signing two individuals during the first wave of free agency that coaches believe compliments London's style of play. Those two players: Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus.
"Olamide, intelligence, the ability to make plays, particularly in the middle of the field. He will do anything for the football team as he's done. He's always been a playmaker in this league. You've seen him constantly be able to work in offenses, special teams, you name it, but just a pros pro," head coach Kevin Stefanski said.
"Then, Jahan, excited about his skill set. I think he's a young man that has a lot in him. I think he's been productive with the opportunities that have come his way – real speed, real separation ability, so excited about Jahan."
These two additions alone make you feel different about the receiver room heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. No longer does receiver feel like the top need the Falcons need to address with one of their five picks. That said, one can never have too many pass catchers, and there are some really interesting prospects in this draft class.
Here are some of those targets in each of the rounds the Falcons will be picking in come the start of draft weekend.
SECOND ROUND
Germie Bernard — Alabama
The skinny on Bernard is that he's pro-ready with the skills and experience needed to succeed fairly early in his career. At 6-foot-1, 207 pounds, Bernard was a traditional Z receiver with a knack for reliability. He only had four drops on 232 career targets. Stefanski's offense values receivers who can win out of different alignments, and that's Bernard. And don't be fooled by his measurables. His tape, according to draft buzz, shows a player who "plays the game two steps ahead of what his body might suggest on paper."
What's more, Bernard already has a connection with Michael Penix Jr., as the receiver was one of the many talented receivers Penix threw to during that electric national championship run in 2023. Bernard followed head coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama, where he's anchored the Crimson Tide's receiving room for two seasons as the leading receiving target.
Zachariah Branch — Georgia
Everyone knows how much success London has when working out of the slot. Some of his best matchups come from there. But what if the Falcons deployed a completely different slot receiver, one like Branch? Because that's what you would get, in a good way. Where London slot work success is matchup based, Branch's is all about speed. He may be on the smaller side, but his short-area quickness is enticing. His skillset is not hidden, and even knowing what you're getting with Branch didn't stop him from succeeding, particularly in 2025.
Branch led the SEC in receptions last year, with 82.7% of his catches coming within nine yards of the line of scrimmage. He ran a screen on 25.4% of his routes, which led the FBS. Still, 78% of his 811 total yards came after the catch, depicting a player that outpaced opponents even when they knew what he was doing. Branch also has upside as a return man, something the Falcons could highly value.
THIRD ROUND
Malachi Fields — Notre Dame
Fields may not be a receiver who outruns guys, but he sure loves the physicality of taking his frame to the brink. Reliable and trustworthy, Fields only had three drops over his final 25 games of his college career after starting it as a quarterback and moving to receiver two years in. Became a source of notable plays in his outside X role, with 75% of his catches in 2025 resulting in either a touchdown or first down in 2025. Though the Falcons already have one of the best big-body receivers in the game right now in London, who's to say they couldn't use a clone-like option in the room, too.
Ted Hurst — Georgia State
A local option who made Bruce Feldman's 2025 "Freaks List," Hurst's long build hides speed often reserved for a player much smaller. He ran a 4.42 40-time at the combine this February. His broad jump? In the 99th percentile. His physical gifts alone show a player with high upside. That, and he has the production and tape to make him someone teams could value. By the end of his time down the road at Georgia State, Hurst sat top-5 in program history in receiving yards (1,965), touchdowns (15) and 100-yard games (8).
Just last week, running back Bijan Robinson called the new Falcons' playbook under offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, "explosive." There was no one more explosive in FBS last year than Hurst, who led the FBS in catches of over 20 yards (34).
FOURTH ROUND
Deion Burks — Oklahoma
Footwork. It comes up in just about every scouting report you read about Burks as one of his main strengths. He's is often described as sudden off the line of scrimmage with real make-you-miss and keep-defenders-off-balance type of traits. He wasn't used as a downfield threat with Oklahoma, more flashy on jet sweeps, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the ability to stretch the field vertically. In fact, experts believe that could be a much bigger part of his game with a quarterback who likes to push the ball downfield. And though he doesn't have special teams tape from his most recent years with Oklahoma, that is a part of his repertoire - with a 19.9 yards per kickoff return average with Purdue in 2022.
Skyler Bell — UConn
Experts agree, Bell needs refinement in certain areas and doesn't have a special teams upside. However, his yards after catch make a lot of that seem small in comparison. Bell was one of just two receivers in all of FBS in 2025 with over 800 yards after catch. Putting up major numbers last season, Bell finished the year with 1,278 yards. He was UConn's first Consensus All-American and notched the single-season school record for catches and touchdowns. There is a role for a player like Bell on an NFL team, no doubt.
SIXTH ROUND
Kevin Coleman Jr. — Missouri
Coleman may be undersized, even as a slot guy, but he makes up for lack of size with speed. Defenders struggle to keep on his hip at times, and he has shown the ability to get on top of coverage. He may not project as a starter early, but he absolutely could play a role on special teams, carving out a spot on a roster by way of being a return man. Despite going to four different college programs in four years, Coleman was a punt returner everywhere he went. He has a 67-yard touchdown return in 2025.
J. Michael Sturdivant — Florida
Prior to his lone year at Florida, Sturdivant was another name on Feldman's college "Freaks List," with The Athletic writer stating in 2023 that Sturdivant was "the most gifted wideout the Bruins had in the Chip Kelly era." Though his production across his career never really amounted to his stellar freshman season in 2022 when he amassed 755 yards, seven touchdowns and a Freshman All-American nod, he still has the physical traits that could sustain him at the next level.
SEVENTH ROUND
Zavion Thomas — LSU
When you get to the seventh round of any draft, you're looking for depth in many ways. If there is someone on this list whose career has shown value across the board in depth, its Thomas'. Thomas hit the football version of a cycle throughout his college years, scoring at least one touchdown in four different ways (rushing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return). His breakaway speed and vision has been evident in his three return touchdowns he's scored. He may not be in the offensive lineup right away, but he has the special teams upside the Falcons covet.
Vinny Anthony II — Wisconsin
Like Thomas, Anthony is a receiver with special teams prowess. He, too, has experience in punt and kickoff return. He averaged 6.9 yards per attempt via punt return, and 25.6 yards per attempt via kickoff return. He scored a rushing, receiving and kickoff return touchdown in 2025 alone. He doesn't have flashy receiving numbers, but there are those that believe that had more to do with Wisconsin's offense than Anthony's overall play. That said, this is a player who is worth a draft pick.
