By: Kenneth Harrison

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The 2026 NFL draft is less than one month away.

We are going to take a look at the Atlanta Falcons and see what the team’s biggest needs are after free agency.

Atlanta Falcons (8-9): Atlanta traded their 2026 first-round pick to the LA Rams last season to move up and draft DE James Pearce Jr. He had a very good rookie season in 2025, which includes 26 tackles, 10 TFL and 10.5 sacks.

The problem is the character issues that caused him to slip in the 2025 draft have surfaced.

In early February he stalked his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson in Miami. He appeared to intentionally hit her vehicle as she attempted to reach a police station.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office has brought three felony charges against the pass-rusher. They are aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person. He also faces a charge of aggravated stalking that was changed from a felony to a misdemeanor.

I’m surprised the Falcons have not dropped Pearce yet. With that said I think Atlanta can add an edge rusher to the list of what the team needs.

The biggest team needs are WR, DL, CB, Edge and LB.

Here is a list of the players Atlanta has acquired through free agency. QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Trevor Siemian, RB Brian Robinson, RB Tyler Goodson, WR Jahan Dotson, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, TE Austin Hooper, Edge Samson Ebukam, Edge Azeez Ojulari, DE Cameron Thomas, DT LaCale London, DL Da’Shawn Hand, DL Chris Williams, LB Christian Harris, K Nick Folk and P Jake Bailey.

Atlanta did franchise tag TE Kyle Pitts. They also made a trade to Philadelphia for S Sydney Brown. He is the identical twin brother of Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown.

The Falcons receive Brown and 2026 fourth- and sixth-round selections, while the Eagles receive 2026 fourth- and sixth-round picks. Brown has started 9 games for the Eagles in his tree years with the team.

As you can see, Atlanta hasn’t really signed any marquee players. I believe they should add a playmaker at wide receiver to play opposite of Drake London.

Darnell Mooney was WR2 for the last two seasons. He was great in 2024, with 64 receptions, 992 yards and 5 touchdowns. Last season was terrible though. He only had 32 catches, 443 yards and 1 TD in 15 games.

The interior defensive line could use more size. The team also needs to upgrade the cornerback position around A.J. Terrell.

The Falcons only have five draft picks this year. They are; #48 (Round 2), #79 (Round 3), #122 (Round 4), #215 (Round 6) and #231 (Round 7).

It is hard to tell who will be available in the later rounds. I think the second-round pick will be an offensive or defensive lineman.

Edge Malachi Lawrence (UCF) might be an option. He had 28 tackles, 11 TFL and 7 sacks in 2025. He was also named All-Big 12 First Team.

Offensive tackle Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) could also be an option. He started all 14 games at right tackle and he played on 923 of ASU’s 974 offensive snaps on the season. He also posted the nation’s 38th-best grade on zone blocking run plays among tackles at 78.1.