With a run on cornerbacks and defensive tackles early in the second round, Atlanta has Jacob Rodriguez fall into their lap at No. 48.
Tori McElhaney
Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Mock draft season is in full swing as the 2026 NFL Draft is but a couple weeks away.
The Falcons do not have a first-round pick. However, that won't stop us here at AtlantaFalcons.com from getting in on the mock draft action. We just have to do so in a different fashion than years prior. That means we're starting with a Top 50 look.
Draft experts have long stated this draft class isn't particularly top heavy. So, unlike in the last few years, it makes things much more interesting as the draft goes on. This is good news for the Falcons seeing as their No. 48 pick could find them in a good spot for movement down and around, or with the option to stay put and get a player who may have had a first-round grade.
That said, though, for this mock draft, no team is trading picks away. Which means Atlanta will pick at No. 48. And wouldn't you know it, a player at a particular position of need while also being (arguably) the best player available at the time falls to the Falcons.
Let's take a look at the board.
LV
1
Fernando Mendoza
QB | Indiana
Roster needs per NFL.com: QB, WR, OL, DL, CB
NYJ
2
David Bailey
EDGE | Texas Tech
Roster needs per NFL.com: QB, EDGE, WR, CB, OL
ARI
3
Francis Mauigoa
OT | Miami
Roster needs per NFL.com: QB, OL, EDGE, DL, LB
TEN
4
Arvell Reese
EDGE | Ohio State
Roster needs per NFL.com: OL, EDGE, WR, RB, LB
NYG
5
Carnell Tate
WR | Ohio State
Roster needs per NFL.com: OL, DL, WR, LB, CB
CLE
6
Mansoor Delane
CB | LSU
Roster needs per NFL.com: QB, OL, WR, CB, EDGE
WAS
7
Jeremiyah Love
RB | Notre Dame
Roster needs per NFL.com: WR, CB, EDGE, OL, RB
NOR
8
Makai Lemon
WR | USC
Roster needs per NFL.com: WR, EDGE, CB, DL, OL
KC
9
Sonny Styles
LB | Ohio State
Roster needs per NFL.com: CB, WR, EDGE, DL, LB
CIN
10
Olaivavega Ioane
OL | Penn State
Roster needs per NFL.com: DL, LB, OL, DB, EDGE
MIA
11
Caleb Downs
S | Ohio State
Roster needs per NFL.com: WR, CB, EDGE, OL, S
DAL
12
Rueben Bain Jr.
EDGE | Miami
Roster needs per NFL.com: EDGE, LB, CB, DL, OL
LAR
13
Jordyn Tyson
WR | Arizona State
Pick acquired from the Atlanta Falcons
Roster needs per NFL.com: WR, OL, EDGE, LB, DB
BAL
14
Spencer Fano
OL | Utah
Roster needs per NFL.com: OL, EDGE, WR, DL, CB
TB
15
Akheem Mesidor
EDGE | Miami
Roster needs per NFL.com: EDGE, DL, CB, LB, OL
NYJ
16
Jermod McCoy
CB | Tennessee
Pick acquired from the Indianapolis Colts
Roster needs per NFL.com: QB, EDGE, WR, CB, OL
Previous pick: EDGE David Bailey via No. 2 overall pick
DET
17
Blake Miller
OT | Clemson
Roster needs per NFL.com: OL, EDGE, LB, S, DL
MIN
18
Dillon Thieneman
S | Oregon
Roster needs per NFL.com: DL, OL, S, WR, CB
CAR
19
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
S | Toledo
Roster needs per NFL.com: OL, S, WR, CB, DL
DAL
20
T.J. Parker
EDGE | Clemson
Pick acquired from the Green Bay Packers
Roster needs per NFL.com: EDGE, LB, CB, DL, OL
Previous pick: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. with No. 12 overall
PIT
21
Omar Cooper Jr.
WR | Indiana
Roster needs per NFL.com: QB, OL, WR, TE, LB
LAC
22
Monroe Freeling
OT | Georgia
Roster needs per NFL.com: OL, EDGE, DL, DB, WR
PHI
23
Kenyon Sadiq
TE | Oregon
Roster needs per NFL.com: EDGE, OL, S, WR, TE
CLE
24
Kadyn Proctor
OT | Alabama
Pick acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars
Roster needs per NFL.com: QB, OL, WR, CB, EDGE
Previous pick: CB Mansoor Delane at No. 6 overall
CHI
25
Kayden McDonald
DT | Ohio State
Roster needs per NFL.com: S, OL, DL, EDGE, WR
BUF
26
Cashius Howell
EDGE | Texas A&M
Roster needs per NFL.com: EDGE, OL, LB, DB, DL
SF
27
Denzel Boston
WR | Washington
Roster needs per NFL.com: OL, EDGE, WR, DL, CB
HOU
28
CJ Allen
LB | Georgia
Roster needs per NFL.com: OL, DL, LB, DB, EDGE
KC
29
Colton Hood
CB | Tennessee
Pick acquired from the Los Angeles Rams
Roster needs per NFL.com: CB, WR, EDGE, DL, LB
Previous pick: LB Sonny Styles at No. 9 overall
MIA
30
KC Concepcion
WR | Texas A&M
Pick acquired from the Denver Broncos
Roster needs per NFL.com: WR, CB, EDGE, OL, S
NE
31
Keldric Faulk
EDGE | Auburn
Roster needs per NFL.com: EDGE, DL, TE, OL, WR
SEA
32
Caleb Lomu
OT | Utah
Roster needs per NFL.com: RB, OL, DB, EDGE, WR
NYJ
33
Ty Simpson
QB | Alabama
Still need: QB, WR, OL
Previous pick(s): EDGE David Bailey via No. 2 overall pick, CB Jermod McCoy via the No. 16 overall pick
ARI
34
Lee Hunter
DT | Texas Tech
Still need: QB, EDGE, DL, LB
Previous pick: OT Francis Mauigoa via No. 3 overall pick
TEN
35
Anthony Hill Jr.
LB | Texas
Still need: OL, WR, RB, LB
Previous pick: EDGE Arvell Reese via the No. 4 overall pick
LV
36
Avieon Terrell
CB | Clemson
Still need: WR, OL, DL, CB
Previous pick: QB Fernando Mendoza via the No. 1 overall pick
NYG
37
Max Iheanachor
OT | Arizona State
Still need: OL, DL, LB, CB
Previous pick: WR Carnell Tate via the No. 5 overall pick
HOU
38
Peter Woods
DT | Clemson
Pick acquired from the Washington Commanders
Still need: OL, DL, DB, EDGE
Previous pick: LB CJ Allen via the No. 28 overall pick
CLE
39
Zion Young
EDGE | Missouri
Still need: QB, WR, EDGE
Previous pick(s): CB Mansoor Deland via pick No. 6, OT Kadyn Proctor via pick No. 24
KC
40
Christen Miller
DT | Georgia
Still need: WR, EDGE, DL
Previous pick(s): LB Sonny Styles via No. 9 pick, CB Colton Hood via No. 29 pick
CIN
41
Caleb Banks
DT | Florida
Still need: DL, LB, DB, EDGE
Previous pick: OL Olaivavega Ioane via the No. 10 overall pick
NOR
42
Chris Johnson
CB | San Diego State
Still need: EDGE, CB, DL, OL
Previous pick: WR Makai Lemon via the No. 8 overall pick
MIA
43
Brandon Cisse
CB | South Carolina
Still need: CB, EDGE, OL
Previous pick(s): S Caleb Downs via the No. 11 pick, WR KC Concepcion via the No. 30 pick
NYJ
44
Zachariah Branch
WR | Georgia
Pick acquired from the Dallas Cowboys
Still need: WR, OL
Previous pick(s): EDGE David Bailey via No. 2 overall pick, CB Jermod McCoy via the No. 16 overall pick, QB Ty Simpson via the No. 33 pick
BAL
45
R Mason Thomas
EDGE | Oklahoma
Still need: EDGE, WR, DL, CB
Previous pick: OL Spencer Fano via No. 14 overall pick
TB
46
Keylan Rutledge
OL | Georgia Tech
Still need: DL, CB, LB, OL
Previous pick: EDGE Akheem Mesidor via pick No. 15
IND
47
Malachi Lawrence
EDGE | UCF
Roster needs per NFL.com: EDGE, LB, S, OL, WR
ATL
48
Jacob Rodriguez
LB | Texas Tech
Roster needs per NFL.com: WR, DL, CB, EDGE, LB
MIN
49
Germie Bernard
WR | Alabama
Still need: DL, OL, WR, CB
Previous pick: S Dillon Thieneman via pick No. 18
DET
50
Jaishawn Barham
EDGE | Michigan
Still need: EDGE, LB, S, DL
Previous pick: OT Blake Miller via pick No. 17
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