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Georgia WR Zachariah Branch.

The Atlanta Falcons took Wide Receiver Zachariah Branch in the third round of the NFL Draft. The organization was predicted to draft the wideout all offseason long.

Drafting Zachariah Branch added depth the Atlanta Falcons desperately needed.

“There is opportunity to be had for Branch. Beyond London, the Falcons’ WR depth chart is populated with the likes of Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and Casey Washington. None of those guys will hold Branch off if he proves he can make plays.” Billy Heyen wrote in a Sporting News article.

“The Atlanta Falcons have quite the talent at the top of their offensive depth chart. Bijan Robinson at RB, Drake London at WR and Kyle Pitts at TE? That’s a group that you’d think can score some points.”

Branch Was One of the More Explosive WRS in Draft

Zachariah Branch is one of the more notable names out of the University of Georgia. The twitchy wideout recorded 81 catches, 811 yards, and 6 touchdowns. He also showed his blazing speed at the NFL Combine which turned a lot of heads. Branch ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash.

“Branch backed up his game tape with a 4.35-second 40 time at the combine. He has enough in the toolbox to succeed as a rookie, but he needs to add more polish to his game to maximize his skill set at the NFL level.” Urben wrote. “While Falcons fans are always going to favor Georgia players in the draft, there’s a lot to like about Branch. He could be a target in Rounds 2-3.” Matt Urben wrote in a Falcons Wire article.

And that’s exactly what happened. Atlanta picked up a receiver who could make a difference primarily in the slot. His blazing make him an instant downfield threat that teams must keep their eyes. This pick can easily open up the rest of the offense and may create more 1-on-1 situations for Drake London.

“The Falcons surely plan to use him like that plenty, and maybe they’ll expand his role as time goes along. But considering that this offense will rely so heavily on Robinson, London and Pitts, anyone who can add another dimension will be appreciated.” Heyen wrote.

“Branch certainly has the potential to do that, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he climbed up the depth chart quickly in Atlanta.”

Quarterback Position Uncertain

Tua Tagovailoa was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on March 9, 2026. On March 24th, the Atlanta Falcons signed veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian. The Falcons made these moves to set up a quarterback competition with Tagovailoa, Siemian, and Michael Penix Jr.

To many people’s expectations, Atlanta didn’t draft a quarterback. The upcoming quarterback competition will be the talk of the offseason for Atlanta.

Michael Penix Jr. is expected to be available to compete for the starting position in 2026. Penix Jr. entered the 2025 season as the starter for the Atlanta Falcons.

Though Zachariah Branch makes the Atlanta Falcons’ offense significantly better, the question mark will remain at the quarterback position. Who will throw him the ball? Being a two-time coach of the year, Kevin Stefanski can be trusted with making the right decision at quarterback. With his track record, Atlanta Falcons fans can have hope in a successful 2026 season.