The 2026 NFL Draft may be in the rearview mirror, but the grades are still rolling in—and once again, the Atlanta Falcons find themselves in the middle of the pack. While the team didn't have a first-round pick, their six-player class has drawn mixed reviews from analysts, with Sports Illustrated handing out a "C" grade that ranks them 28th overall in the league.

Without a Day 1 selection, the Falcons had to wait until the second round to make their first move, grabbing Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the 48th overall pick. The move was a feel-good story—Terrell reunites with his brother, Falcons standout A.J. Terrell—but it also made football sense. SI's Justin Melo called Terrell an "instant contributor" in the secondary, a bright spot in a class that otherwise lacked star power.

Day 2 brought more promise with third-round pick Zachariah Branch, a wide receiver out of Georgia. Branch has the speed and versatility to make plays, but Melo noted he'll need to prove he has the strength to be more than just a gadget player. Still, nabbing two potential starters on Day 2 is a win for a team that had to work with limited resources.

The real challenge came on Day 3, where the Falcons made four selections but failed to generate much buzz. After trading down in the fourth round, Atlanta took Kendal Daniels, a safety-turned-linebacker from Oklahoma. They followed up with Washington defensive lineman Anterio Thompson, LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr., and offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa in the seventh round. Perkins, in particular, was called a "value pick" by Melo, but the overall depth of the class left critics unimpressed.

Context matters here: the Falcons entered the draft with just five picks, the fewest in the league. A late trade added a sixth-rounder, but general manager Ian Cunningham's first draft was always going to be about filling gaps rather than swinging for the fences. Given those constraints, landing two players who could start right away—Terrell and Branch—is a solid outcome.

For Falcons fans, the grade may sting, but the real test will come on the field. If Terrell and Branch hit their ceilings, and if Perkins develops into a steal, this class could look a lot better in hindsight. For now, Atlanta will have to settle for a "C"—and hope it's the kind that leads to improvement.