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NORMAN, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 19: Lotzeir Brooks #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Kendal Daniels #5 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter during 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on December 19, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Falcons made a trade in the 2026 NFL draft to select a new player for their organization. After trading with the Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta acquired the 134th overall pick on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. The Falcons also got pick No. 208 in the sixth round, which will be announced later today.
With the No. 134 pick on Saturday, the Falcons selected linebacker Kendal Daniels out of the University of Oklahoma to add another chip to their defense.
Daniels carries a lot of athleticism from his time in the SEC, but he’s a strong linebacker with experience at the safety position.
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GettyNORMAN, OKLAHOMA – DECEMBER 19: Lotzeir Brooks #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Kendal Daniels #5 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter during 2025 College Football Playoff First Round Game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on December 19, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Kendal Daniels ran a 4.57-4.79 40-yard dash at the Oklahoma Pro Day. He played safety for the first three years of his collegiate career at Oklahoma State, before transferring to Oklahoma for his fifth season.
In his one season with Oklahoma, he recorded nine tackles for loss and 28 tackles over 13 games. In his five-year college career, Kendal Daniels has 31.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, and 180 total tackles. He converted to more of a line of scrimmage threat with Oklahoma, which is why some of those performative numbers dropped.
AtlantaFalcons.com writers noted why this is a good fit with defensive coordinator Jeff Ullrich:
“Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been drawn to rangy, long and versatile off-ball linebackers, and Daniels fits squarely into that category. He ranks in the 97th percentile for height among linebackers who have ever been measured at the NFL Combine, and has the movement ability to put his size to great use.”
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Kendal Daniels Fit with the Falcons
GettyNORMAN, OKLAHOMA – NOVEMBER 29: Zavion Thomas #0 of the Louisiana State Tigers carries the ball defended by Kendal Daniels #5 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the first quarter of the game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
With some of the Falcons depth injuries last season, Atlanta was forced to use some very inexperienced linebackers, which made this a position group of need. Solidifying the back end of the defense was the main priority of the draft, and they did that in a big wya by drafting cornerback Avieon Terrell, and then addressing the receiver room with the selection of Zachariah Branch.
He measured at 6-4, 195 pounds, and could end up being a versatile asset down the road for the Falcons.
His 54 total games in college signal that he’s played a lot of snaps at a high level of football.
The Falcons defense will be a very interesting group to watch next season. They had moments of being good and some not-so-great moments in 2025, but it seems to be an emphasis this offseason.
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