NFC South
Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft Profile
How the Falcons draft: the front office running the board, the needs shaping the next class, and every draft class we cover.
Front office and philosophy
General manager: Ian Cunningham · Head coach: Kevin Stefanski
Balanced offensive system under Stefanski that rewards physical WRs, versatile TEs, and a run-heavy approach. Cunningham's new regime is reshaping the roster around defensive improvement and offensive reliability.
Kevin Stefanski ran one of the most balanced offenses in Cleveland before arriving in Atlanta. He values physical WRs who can run after the catch and reliable blocking TEs. Cunningham is a new GM who will likely defer to Stefanski's offensive preferences while addressing the defensive front, which has underperformed for years.
These tendencies are encoded directly into the simulator: when you run a mock and the Falcons are on the clock, the engine applies this regime's positional biases and its balance between best-player-available and need-based drafting. See how the simulator works for the full methodology.
Inside the simulator, this regime splits evenly between taking the best player available and drafting for need, and is equally willing to move up or back (25 either way). Its clearest positional preferences are wide receiver, edge rusher, interior offensive line, which the engine applies on top of the needs list above. It also weights testing numbers more heavily than most, so athletic outliers rise on its board.
Current draft needs
Our needs assessment for the Falcons entering the 2027 draft cycle, ordered by priority. These weightings are what the simulator uses when it evaluates this team's board.
Team needs were researched for this class from current rosters. They predate free agency and will be revised after March 2027.
A needs list is a judgement, not a fact, so it is worth saying how this one is built. We read the current depth chart rather than last season's production: a position counts as a need when the projected starter is a stopgap, is out of contract, or is the reason a unit underperformed, and it stops counting when the roster has an answer even if that answer is unspectacular. Contract structure matters as much as talent, which is why a position can appear here a full year before it looks like a problem on the field.
The 2027 class
The 2027 draft has not been held. On the projected order the Falcons hold 4 picks, opening at No. 10. 3 of their own have been traded away. The needs shaping that class are quarterback, wide receiver, edge rusher.
The full 2027 Atlanta Falcons outlook breaks down every projected pick, the weighting behind each need, and which prospects are currently projected into the range where they pick.
Draft classes
| Class | Picks | First selection | First player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 4 proj. | No. 10 | Not yet drafted | 2027 needs and picks → |
| 2026 | 6 | No. 48 | Avieon Terrell | Full 2026 class → |
Division rivals
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