Atlanta Falcons choose Zacariah Branch, Avieon Terrell

Flowery Branch – The Atlanta Falcons added a dynamic playmaker with local ties to Georgia football on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch in the third round (79th overall).

Branch, a Las Vegas native who spent the 2025 season at Georgia after beginning his career at Southern California, brings explosive ability as both a receiver and return specialist. Over three collegiate seasons, he appeared in 38 games, hauling in 159 receptions for 1,634 yards and nine touchdowns.

In his lone season with the Bulldogs, Branch played in 14 games with 10 starts, finishing with 81 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams, returning 10 kickoffs for 205 yards and 13 punts for 157 yards, showcasing the versatility that made him one of the most dangerous open-field players in college football.

Branch burst onto the national scene as a true freshman at Southern California in 2023, earning the Jet Award as the nation’s top return specialist. That season, he totaled 332 punt return yards with a touchdown and added 442 kickoff return yards and another score, immediately establishing himself as an elite playmaker.

Earlier in the second round, the Falcons addressed the defensive side of the ball by selecting Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the 48th overall pick.

Terrell, an Atlanta native and younger brother of current Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., appeared in 39 games over three seasons at Clemson. He compiled 125 tackles (90 solo), 25 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, four sacks and three interceptions during his collegiate career.

A two-time All-ACC selection, Terrell led all NCAA cornerbacks in forced fumbles over his three-year career and set Clemson’s single-season record with five in 2025. He earned second-team Associated Press All-American honors that season after recording 46 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, along with a career-high 3.0 sacks, 11 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery across 12 starts.

With the additions of Branch and Terrell, Atlanta continues to build depth with proven collegiate production on both sides of the ball, adding a versatile offensive weapon and a physical, playmaking presence in the secondary.