Atlanta, GA

Falcons mock draft 2026: Restocking Atlanta’s offense

Published

5 months ago

January 24, 2026

Falcons mock draft 2026: Restocking Atlanta’s offense

The 2025 NFL season wasn’t kind to the Atlanta Falcons, who missed the playoffs for the eighth-straight year, saw their starting quarterback tear his ACL, and wound up firing their head coach and general manager. It’s been tumultuous, to say the least. But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, as the Falcons have hired a new head coach—Kevin Stefanski—and are in the midst of a thorough search for their next general manager with former star quarterback Matt Ryan now leading the show as president of football.

With the Senior Bowl officially kicking off draft season next week, now is the perfect time to jump into the 2026 NFL Draft. The Falcons are not working with a full complement of picks this season, which certainly complicates things. That doesn’t mean the team can’t make some significant additions, and there may be opportunities for Atlanta to increase their pick count through creative trades.

For my initial 2026 mock draft, we’re going to keep things simple. So no trades considered today—but that’ll change soon enough, don’t worry.

Before we jump in to the mock, let’s take a look at the Falcons’ current haul of draft picks.

What are the Falcons current draft picks?

Round 2, Pick 48
Round 3, Pick 79
Round 4, Pick 114
Round 6, Pick 195
Round 7, Pick 231

This is the written version, but you can also find the mock draft in two alternate forms as well. On our YouTube channel:

The mock is also available on all your favorite podcast platforms! You can listen to it directly here:

Round 2, Pick 48: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

The Falcons were depending on Darnell Mooney to carry the load as their dynamic counterpart across from Drake London again in 2025 after an electric 2024 season. That didn’t materialize, as Mooney suffered a broken collarbone early in training camp and never looked like himself throughout the year. Given Mooney’s exorbitant cost and realizable cap savings (over nearly $12M as a post-June 1st cut), it’s pretty clear Atlanta will need to look elsewhere for wide receiver help in 2026.

Without a first round pick, the Falcons will have more limited options. Luckily, there are several Day 2 prospects who can come in an make an immediate impact in Atlanta. Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. is a dynamic athlete with a solid frame (6’0, 200) that allows him to play a versatile role in the offense. While he’s been most effective as a slot receiver, Cooper has had success as an outside Z as well. Cooper put up an impressive 69 receptions for 937 yards (13.6 YPR) and 13 TDs during Indiana’s championship run, and also 3 carries for 74 yards (24.7 yards per carry!) and a TD. His hands are elite and his yards after catch ability is special. The Falcons have an elite WR1 in Drake London and solid possession-type receivers across the depth chart, but they’re seriously lacking in what Cooper brings to the table.

Round 3, Pick 79: C Jake Slaughter, Florida

With the Falcons transitioning to a more diverse run game, they may be looking for a bit more run blocking prowess from their center. Ryan Neuzil performed admirably this season given his price tag, but is entering the final year of his deal. Florida’s Jake Slaughter (amazing name) is one of the best center prospects in the class, bringing excellent run blocking and pass blocking to the table along with good size (6’4, 305).

Slaughter allowed just 1 sack, 1 hit, and 2 hurries in over 400 pass blocking snaps for the Gators in 2025. He was an elite zone blocker and a well above-average power blocker, and there’s room to put even more good weight on his frame. The Falcons would be fine with Neuzil for the 2026 season, but they’d be wise to invest in competition and quality depth (at the very least) for this year and beyond.

Round 4, Pick 114: OT Austin Barber, Florida

Speaking of the offensive line, the Falcons are also reaching a critical point with their offensive tackle situation. The team got a heavy dose of injuries at the position in 2025, losing starter Kaleb McGary and swing tackle Storm Norton for the entire season before Week 1. Atlanta weathered the storm with Elijah Wilkinson, but more depth and potential future starters are needed. Jake Matthews is entering the downswing of his career, and the team would be wise to start taking shots on developmental tackle prospects.

The Falcons keep together two players from the same college line by grabbing Florida offensive tackle Austin Barber. Barber played left tackle for three seasons, where he was one of the best run blockers in college football but struggled as a pass protector. He’s one of the most well-rounded run blockers in the class, with elite zone and gap scheme traits. However, he needs a lot of work in the passing game. While 2025 was a step forward for him, Barber allowed 3 sacks, 1 hit, and 13 (!!) hurries in 422 pass blocking snaps. There are no perfect tackle prospects on Day 3, and Barber’s floor as a road grader makes him a clear fit in what is likely to be a run-heavy offense in Atlanta.

Round 6, Pick 195: TE Carsen Ryan, BYU

One thing we know about Kevin Stefanski is that the man loves his multiple tight end sets. With the Falcons top two TEs both potentially leaving—Kyle Pitts in free agency, and Charlie Woerner as a cap casualty ($4.75M savings)—there’s a massive gap to be filled. Atlanta won’t be able to replace Pitts late in the draft, but they can probably find a serviceable replacement for Woerner.

That’s where BYU’s Carsen Ryan comes in. One of the best run blocking tight ends in college football, Ryan turned in an outstanding 2025 season. At 6’4, 250, he’s got ideal size for the position and showcased strong hand usage, physicality, and ability to move defenders at the point of attack. Ryan isn’t an overly dynamic athlete, but carved out a significant role in the BYU passing game with 45 receptions for 620 yards (13.8 YPR) and 3 TDs this season. He’s got soft hands and can find the open spot in zones, providing a QB-friendly target, and also showcased some downfield ability. The Falcons need to start hitting on some later picks, and going after a proven blocking tight end is a great way to start.

Round 7, Pick 231: WR Caullin Lacy, Louisville

One of the most disappointing areas of the 2024 and 2025 Falcons teams was special teams. While there were issues at all levels, the return game was absolutely lethargic. Atlanta went out and signed Jamal Agnew, who struggled with injury early and ended up benched to end the season. This team needs an injection of dynamic ability to the return game, and they need it badly.

Louisville’s Caullin Lacy is a return specialist with a lot of experience as both a punt and kick returner. He turned in his best performance in 2025, leading the ACC by averaging 18.2 yards per punt return and notching two punt return TDs. He also managed an impressive 38.2 yards per kick return (along with a kick return TD) back in the 2024 season. Lacy has also been an effective gadget player and slot receiver for Louisville, with 60 receptions for 635 yards (10.6 YPR) and 2 TDs this season. His size (5’10, 180) probably limits his offensive role in the NFL, but his special teams acumen and athleticism should help him earn an immediate roster spot.

What do you think about this potential draft class for the Falcons? Leave your draft takes in the comments below!

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Atlanta, GA

Would you work here? Georgia’s top office has been revealed

Published

6 hours ago

June 28, 2026

Press Room

Would you work here? Georgia’s top office has been revealed

A new survey suggests that if Georgia workers could choose any office in the state to work from, many would pick Chick-fil-A’s headquarters in Atlanta.

The survey from Resume.io asked more than 3,000 workers nationwide to identify the workplaces they would most like to work from if location were not a factor.

Participants were instructed to judge the office environment itself rather than salary, benefits, company culture or employer reputation.

Among Georgia locations, the Chick-fil-A Support Center ranked highest, followed by Porsche Cars North America’s headquarters in Atlanta.

Chick-fil-A tops Georgia list

The Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A Support Center ranked No. 17 nationally in the survey.

Researchers highlighted the campus-style setting, which includes landscaped grounds, gardens, walking trails and visitor experiences. The workplace was noted for having a more retreat-like atmosphere than a traditional office tower.

The support center serves as the corporate headquarters for the restaurant chain founded by S. Truett Cathy.

Porsche headquarters also earns recognition

Coming in at No. 30 nationally was the headquarters of Porsche Cars North America.

Located in metro Atlanta, the campus is home to the Porsche Experience Center and includes a driver development track, simulators, event space, training facilities and a vehicle restoration workshop.

The survey described the site as a workplace that immerses employees in the brand’s automotive culture.

What workers want from an office

According to Resume.io, respondents were asked to focus strictly on the physical workplace environment when making their selections.

The survey comes as many employers continue balancing in-office, hybrid and remote work arrangements.

Amanda Augustine, a career expert with Resume.io, said employee expectations have changed as flexible work has become more common.

“If people are going to spend time commuting and working onsite, the experience has to offer something more than a desk and fluorescent lighting,” Augustine said.

Which offices ranked highest nationwide?

Nationally, the top-ranked workplace was Bloomberg’s headquarters in New York City.

Other offices appearing near the top of the list included the PGA TOUR Global Home in Florida, Servco Pacific’s headquarters in Hawaii, Google’s St. John’s Terminal in New York and TikTok’s U.S. Data Security office in Arizona.

Georgia was one of only a handful of states to place two workplaces among the survey’s top 30 most desirable offices.

For more information, visit resume.io.

Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.

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Atlanta, GA

DR Congo advances to knockouts after defeating Uzbekistan 3-1

Published

16 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

DR Congo advances to knockouts after defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 | FOX 5 Atlanta

DR Congo fans are pumped after historic win

GOAL: DR Congo seals the deal!

DR Congo goes ahead 2-1 against Uzbekistan

DR Congo evens the score with penalty goal

Uzbekistan leads DR Congo at halftime; 1-0

Uzbekistan’s Shumoradov strikes first 1-0

SOLD OUT! Atlanta FIFA Fan Festival hosts packed house

Crowds increase outside Atlanta Stadium before match

Fans at Atlanta FIFA Fan Festival excited ahead of Uzbekistan vs DR Congo

Atlanta, GA

How to watch DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan today: TV channel, streaming and kickoff time

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

How to watch DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan today: TV channel, streaming and kickoff time

June 27, 2026 / 12:00 PM EDT
/ CBS Atlanta

The group stage of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is nearly over, but not before the Democratic Republic of the Congo takes on Uzbekistan at Atlanta Stadium.

For DR Congo, this last match is extremely important. The team remains in contention for a spot in the knockout round with its one point. Uzbekistan has an extremely slim change of getting to the round of 32 following its loss to Portugal earlier this week, but a massive win could change all that.

This is the second time DR Congo has competed in the World Cup since 1974, when it was called Zaire. The team qualified after winning a playoff tournament in Mexico.