INDIANAPOLIS — Ian Cunningham has been general manager of the Atlanta Falcons for less than a month, and yet he's already made one thing abundantly clear.
"I love [draft] picks, man," Cunningham said during his introductory press conference. He continued that refrain during the media rounds at the NFL Combine on Tuesday, offering further insight into how they might approach the draft in April.
Atlanta currently has five picks in the 2026 draft, but Cunningham's history provides a clear example of how quickly that can change. In 2022, Cunningham's first draft with the Chicago Bears, the team entered the event with six picks. They ended the draft with 11 picks after making four trades over the weekend.
Cunningham explained his time in Chicago helped him learn "to use every method as humanly possible in order to manufacture picks."
While discussions are always happening among NFL teams, they kick into overdrive during the combine, and it is clear draft capital is on Cunningham's mind. Atlanta doesn't have a first-round pick in its arsenal for the 2026 draft, but Chicago didn't either in 2022 and that didn't prevent the Bears from accruing more selections.
The Falcons liked what they saw out of their 2025 draft class, which helped them make strides on the defensive side of the ball. With former first-round picks Bijan Robinson and Drake London establishing themselves as stars at their respective positions, and an announcement from Cunningham on Tuesday that tight end Kyle Pitts will receive the franchise tag, there is talent on both sides of the ball for the new regime to build around.
Cunningham shared that the Falcons are looking to "create more depth" with their limited resources, and that approach should be achievable on Day 2 and Day 3. Of course, more bites at the apple increase the team's chances of accomplishing that goal.
"I said with our scouting staff last week, this is going to be the last year that we ever have five picks," Cunningham said. "Like I've said before, I love picks. That's going to be a part of our philosophy, and we're going to have as many swings at the plate that we can."
There has been a lot on the plates of Cunningham, new head coach Kevin Stefanski and new president of football Matt Ryan since they were hired less than two months ago. They have hired new coaches and staff members, begun player evaluations and have been part of numerous scouting meetings.
The decisions made at this time of year will help set the course for not only free agency and the draft but the future of the franchise under this new leadership. Getting as many draft opportunities as possible come April will aid them on their path.
"There's a chance that we may end up with just five (picks), but I hope that's not the case," Cunningham said.
