The Atlanta Falcons entered the 2026 NFL Draft without a first-round pick, putting them at a disadvantage from the start. But despite the uphill battle, the team earned early praise for their Day 2 selections of Avieon Terrell and Zachariah Branch. However, that enthusiasm quickly faded when analysts turned their attention to Day 3.

Draft experts struggled to see the logic behind Atlanta's later picks, particularly the additions of versatile linebackers Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) and Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU). Both players lined up at multiple positions during their college careers—a trait the Falcons viewed as a strength, but one that left others questioning their lack of a defined role.

NFL.com recently ranked all 32 draft classes, placing the Falcons at No. 25 overall. Yet, there was a bright spot: sixth-round pick Harold Perkins Jr. was named among the biggest sleepers of the entire draft.

"Perkins burst onto the college football scene as a wildly productive true freshman back in 2022, but positional uncertainty and a torn ACL sapped his NFL prospects," wrote NFL.com's Gennaro Filice. "If he can regain his full athletic prowess, can he find a role in an NFL that's becoming more positionless with each passing year?"

For Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, that perceived lack of positional identity is no concern at all. Last season, veterans Divine Deablo and Kaden Elliss thrived in Ulbrich's scheme precisely because of their versatility. With Elliss signing with the New Orleans Saints in free agency, Atlanta had a clear need at inside linebacker—and Perkins and Daniels are poised to fill it.

Even if they begin the season on special teams, both rookies should carve out roles in 2026. For a team looking to rebuild its defensive depth, these sleeper picks could prove to be hidden gems.