FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The 2026 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and the Atlanta Falcons will be making their first selections under general manager Ian Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Each week throughout draft season, we'll comb through the national mock drafts to get a sense of who people believe the Falcons will take in April. Keep in mind that the Falcons don't have a selection until pick No. 48 in the second round, so there may not be as many mock drafts reflecting an Atlanta pick as usual.
Here are the latest mock draft predictions for the Falcons:
MOCK DRAFTER: Jordan Reid — ESPN
LAST MOCK PUBLISHED: March 4
PICK: DT Kayden McDonald — Ohio State
REID'S ANALYSIS: "Nose tackle is a clear need for the Falcons. McDonald is a stout presence on the interior who led the country in run stop win rate last season (7.8%) while also possessing a pass-rushing punch."
MOCK DRAFTER: Dane Brugler — The Athletic
LAST MOCK PUBLISHED: March 4
PICK: DT Christen Miller — Georgia
BRUGLER'S ANALYSIS: N/A
MOCK DRAFTER: Justin Melo — Sports Illustrated
LAST MOCK PUBLISHED: March 2
PICK: CB Chris Johnson — San Diego State
MELO'S ANALYSIS: "San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson was our selection for the Atlanta Falcons in our last mock and that hasn't changed. Johnson thrived at the NFL Combine, running a 4.40 at 6-0, 193. The small-school defender also leaped a 38 inch vertical and 10-foot-6 broad jump. He would improve the Falcons' cornerback room opposite A.J. Terrell."
MOCK DRAFTER: Jaime Eisner — The Draft Network
LAST MOCK PUBLISHED: February 16
PICK: CB Chris Johnson — San Diego State
EISNER'S ANALYSIS: "San Diego State's Chris Johnson has had back-to-back strong seasons with the Aztecs and will be just 21 years old when the NFL season starts. Johnson is scheme-versatile and a difference-maker on the back end—he has five interceptions, four forced fumbles, and two touchdowns over his last two collegiate seasons. Johnson is still ascending as a prospect, leaving plenty of room for growth into being Terrell's long-term complement."
MOCK DRAFTER: Josh Kendall — The Athletic
LAST MOCK PUBLISHED: February 13
PICK: DT Christen Miller — Georgia (at pick No. 53 after a trade back)
KENDALL'S ANALYSIS: "If the Falcons use a second straight first pick on a Bulldog — after nabbing Jalon Walker at No. 15 last spring — we can finally retire the idea that the state's pro team has some sort of disdain for the local university. That's not the biggest reason to pick Miller, though. The biggest reason is that he's big himself, and the Falcons need interior defensive linemen. … The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Miller is a run-first defender who needs to hone his pass-rush skills but 'has the tools to add immediate value to an NFL front,' [Dane] Brugler wrote. He is Brugler's No. 37 overall player."
MOCK DRAFTER: Chad Reuter — NFL.com
PICK: TE Michael Trigg — Baylor
LAST MOCK PUBLISHED: February 9
REUTER'S ANALYSIS: N/A
