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AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 19: Tight end Brandon Frazier #87 of the Auburn Tigers looks to run the ball by linebacker Derrick Smith #24 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during they first half of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) | Getty Images The 2026 NFL Draft is officially closed, and the Atlanta Falcons clearly had one concept in mind in Ian Cunningham’s first draft as general manager: Take as many bets on high-end traits as possible.
With Zachariah Branch, the bet is on his speed and return ability to hold him up as he continues to develop as an overall receiver in the NFL.
For Kendal Daniels, it’s a bet on the versatility from his safety days at Oklahoma, combined with his ability to play the run as a linebacker, to become another chess piece in the Jeff Ulbrich puzzle.
Anterio Thompson, Harold Perkins, and Ethan Onwiana all have traits that can potentially show themselves on special teams or otherwise, before becoming potential stalwarts on a Falcons roster that is still in its early stages of being reworked under the first year of Cunningham, Matt Ryan, and Kevin Stefanski.
The only “sure thing” the Falcons really drafted in this year’s draft was an undersized outside cornerback in Avieon Terrell, who even NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah reported would “project best as a nickel” at the NFL level.
Alongside these worthwhile gambles, the Falcons brought in 16 undrafted free agents and extended four rookie minicamp invites to help fill out this summer’s 90-man roster. While the focus has been on the beautiful moment between the Terrell Brothers and the flipping of Harold Perkins from the evil empire, these 20 individuals have bought themselves a golden ticket to an opportunity at an NFL roster.
And when the list was finalized, there were five names that stood out immediately.
Auburn TE Brandon Frazier
Since joining the team as, coincidentally, an undrafted free agent in 2023, I have been waiting for Joshua Simon to emerge as the H-Back for the Falcons. I thought his combination of athleticism (8.65 RAS, sub 4.7 40-yard dash) could be conducive to him having the explosive element necessary to be a part of the rotation at tight end. Unfortunately, it seems like this year, he’s on his last leg as Stefanski and company have zero ties to the young man.
Even more unfortunately, Brandon Frazier is coming in at a whopping 6’7”, 267 pounds, and is known as a terrific blocker. I don’t see too many scenarios where Frazier does not unseat Simon for that fourth tight end spot and could even start nipping at the heels of Charlie Woerner, who is going into the final year of his contract, with a good enough showing this summer.
Miami C James Brockermeyer
Is he undersized? Yes.
Can he play any other interior offensive lineman positions? You could try, but probably not.
Could he struggle with stronger interior players? Of course, but that’s also why he’s a UDFA.
In 2024, Brockermeyer also allowed only one sack and eight pressures over the course of the season, snagging him an All Big-Ten Honorable Mention. He helped lead Miami to the national championship game and has been noted as a smart, fundamental player. With uncertainty at the center position, Ryan Neuzil may have the pole position, but this is, by far, the most open position “battle” on the offensive line.
Minnesota State Moorhead QB Jake Strand
I will not sit here and act like I have watched any of Minnesota State Moorhead quarterback Jake Strand before he was announced as a UDFA for the Falcons. I will say that the limited tape that I have seen of him shows that he has an impressive arm that can get the ball to its target from multiple arm angles.
Now, he’s still a clear project; he’s inconsistent, he’s streaky, he’s got some real work to do with his footwork. But…there could be something there.
With the amount of burn the Michael Penix, Tua Tagovailoa saga will get here in the coming year, the Strand/Trevor Siemian battle will be very under the radar, but it will be pivotal. Siemian may win solely off the fact that both Penix and Tagovailoa struggle with staying on the field and Siemian is at least a known commodity.
But I’d like to see what the Falcons can get from the 21-year-old graduate, especially since he’s got his Engineering Physics degree.
Wisconsin OL Riley Mahlman
With the sudden retirement of Kaleb McGary, the Falcons immediately pivoted and brought in former Kansas City tackle Jawaan Taylor to fill the void. But outside of Jake Matthews, Atlanta does not have many sure things at the tackle positions. Behind Matthews and Taylor is swing tackle Storm Norton, but he’s coming off a lost 2025 season due to an ankle injury. If Norton is out again, the Falcons are looking at names like former seventh-round pick Jack Nelson and former sixth-round pick from the Seahawks, Michael Jerrell.
So, with a solid summer, Wisconsin’s Riley Mahlman, who has experience at both tackle spots and was a solid run blocker in college, can find himself with the opportunity to be a practice squad player waiting to be called up if the injury bug bites.
